De*glu"ti*to*ry (?), a. Serving for, or aiding in, deglutition.
Deg`ra*da"tion (?), n. [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F. dégradation. See Degrade.] 1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop.
He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed.
Clarendon.
2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.
The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters.
Macaulay.
Deplorable is the degradation of our nature.
South.
Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state.
Blair.
3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.
The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced.