This is how im interpreting it
Main Entry:
1ma·te·ri·al 
Pronunciation: m&-'tir-E-&l
Function:
adjective
Etymology: Middle English
materiel, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin
materialis, from Latin
materia matter -- more at
[SIZE=-1]MATTER[/SIZE]
1 a (1)
: relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter;
especially : [SIZE=-1]PHYSICAL[/SIZE] <the
material world> (2)
: [SIZE=-1]BODILY[/SIZE] <
material needs>
b (1)
: of or relating to matter rather than form <
material cause> (2)
: of or relating to the subject matter of reasoning;
especially : [SIZE=-1]EMPIRICAL[/SIZE] <
material knowledge>
Main Entry:
deg·ra·da·tion 
Pronunciation: "de-gr&-'dA-sh&n
Function:
noun
1 : the act or process of
degrading
2 a : decline to a low, destitute, or demoralized state
b : moral or intellectual decadence
: [SIZE=-1]DEGENERATION[/SIZE]
Main Entry:
de·grade 
Pronunciation: di-'grAd, dE-
Function:
verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French
degrader, from Late Latin
degradare, from Latin
de- + gradus step, grade -- more at
[SIZE=-1]GRADE[/SIZE]
transitive senses
1 a : to lower in grade, rank, or status
: [SIZE=-1]DEMOTE[/SIZE] b : to strip of rank or honors
c : to lower to an inferior or less effective level
d : to scale down in desirability or salability
2 a : to bring to low esteem or into disrepute
b : to drag down in moral or intellectual character
: [SIZE=-1]CORRUPT[/SIZE]
3 : to impair in respect to some physical property
4 : to wear down by erosion
5 : to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound)
: