Degrading

Sinking or lowering a person in the estimation of the public. As to compelling a witness to answer questions tending to degrade him, see Witness; 13 Howell, St. Tr. 17, 334; 16 id. 161; 1 Phill. Ev. 269. To write or print of a man what will degrade him in society is a libel; 1 Dowl. 674; 2 M. & R. 77. See Incrimination. DEGREE (Fr. degre~, from Lat. gradus, a step in a stairway; a round of a ladder). A remove or step in the line of descent or consanguinity. As used in law, it designates the distance between those who are allied by blood: it means the relations descending from a common ancestor, from generation to generation, as by so many steps. Hence, according to some lexicographers, we obtain the word pedigree (q. v.) par degrez (by degrees), the descent being reckoned par degrez. Minshew. Bach generation lengthens the line of descent one degree; for the degrees are only the. generations marked in a line by small circles or squares, in which the names of the persons forming it are written. See Consanguinity; Line; Ayliffe, Parerg. 209; Toullier, Droit Civ. Franc, liv. 3, t. 1, c. 3, n. 158; Aso & M. Inst. b. 2, t. 4, c. 3, § 1. In criminal law, the word is used to distinguish different grades of guilt and punishment attached to the same act, commit- The state or civil condition of a person. State v. Bishop, 15 Me. 122. The ancient English statute of additions, for example, requires that in process, for the better description of a defendant, his state, degree, or mystery shall be mentioned. An honorable state or condition to which a student is advanced in testimony of proficiency in arts and sciences. See College; Diploma. They are of pontifical origin. See 1 Schmidt, Thesaurus, 144; Vicat, Doctores; Minshew, Diet. Bacheler; Merlin, Repertoire Univ.; Van Espen. pt. 1, tit. 10; Giannone, Istoria di Napoli, lib. xi. c. 2, for a full account of this matter. For the degrees of negligence, see Negligence; Bailee; Bailment. DEHORS (Fr. out of; without). Something out of the record, agreement, will, or other thing spoken of; something foreign to the matter in question. See Aliunde.

Reviling; holding one up to public obloquy; lowering a person in the estimation of the public.