Deteriorating (dɪˈtɪə.riə.reɪ.tɪŋ) is a verb that means to become progressively worse over time. The word is spelled with a prefix "de-" meaning "down" or "away" and the base word "teriorate" which comes from the Latin word "terius" meaning "worse". The spelling of "deteriorating" may be confusing because of the double "rr" after "e", but it follows the rule of adding "ate" to the base word. The word can also be spelled with a single "r" in British English, as in "deteriorating".
Deteriorating is an adjective that describes something that is progressively becoming worse in quality, condition, or value over time. It refers to the process of declining or deteriorating in terms of physical characteristics, functionality, appearance, or other relevant aspects.
When something is deteriorating, there may be noticeable signs of decay, damage, or degradation. This could occur due to various factors such as aging, wear and tear, neglect, or natural processes. For example, a deteriorating building might have crumbling walls, a leaking roof, or a weakening foundation. Similarly, a deteriorating relationship might suffer from increased conflicts, declining trust, or decreased communication.
This term can also be used more broadly to describe the decline or worsening of abstract concepts, such as economic conditions, health, or the environment. For instance, a deteriorating economy might experience rising unemployment rates, inflation, or reduced productivity. Meanwhile, the deteriorating health of an individual may involve the worsening of symptoms, the development of new diseases, or the decline of overall well-being.
Overall, deteriorating is an adjective that conveys a negative trend or progression towards a state of lesser quality, condition, or value. It suggests a decline or deterioration that is ongoing and often requires attention or remedial actions to reverse or mitigate the negative effects.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "deteriorating" originated from the Latin word "deteriorare", which is derived from "deterior", meaning "worse" or "inferior". "Deteriorare" itself is a combination of the prefix "de-", indicating negation or reversal, and "ter" (from the Latin word "terere"), meaning "to wear away" or "to rub". Therefore, "deteriorating" essentially refers to something becoming worse or declining in quality over time.