An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. General: Degenerate state or character. Reverting to an earlier, simpler, state.
   

2. Math.: Limiting case in which a class of object changes its nature so as to belong to another, usually simpler, class.
   

3. Physics: In quatum mechanics, the condition in which two or more different → wave functions of a system correspond to the same energy. In the case of atomic energy levels, the degeneracy can be removed, for example, by applying an electric field to the atom.
   

State or charcater of → degenerate matter.

Etymology (EN): From degener(ate), → degenerate, + -acy suffix of nouns of quality and state.

Etymology (PE): Vâgeni, from vâgen, → degenerate, + noun suffix -i.