degenerate and degenerative

[Sophie]

Hi !!
Both "degenerate" and "degenerative" are adjective. But I don't know why we use "degenerative", not "degenarate" in this sentence:

Certain diseases remain steady, others are DEGENERATIVE.

Please help me to understand the difference between the two words.

Thank you in advance.
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[*Vi*]

Hi Sophie!

As I can see "degenerate" describes people while "degenerative" would best describe a disease. The meaning is also different.

EX: Bob is a degenerate.
My uncle has come down with a degenerative disease.

A native speaker might help here.

All the best,

Vi

[Alan]

Hi,

'Degenerate into' is also used as a verb. The whole situation has degenerated into a disaster.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[*Vi*]

Hi Alan,

That's right, I was going to mention the difference when we use degenerate as a verb.
I just didn't do so because she mentioned she knew both were adjectives.

Is is mandatory to use "into" after it in this sense, Alan?

Thanks,

Vi

[Sophie]

Thank you very much.
By the way, Could you explain the sentence: "Bob is a degenerate". It sounds aukward to me.
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[*Vi*]

Sure thing,

degenerate: A depraved, corrupt, or vicious person.
A person lacking or having progressively lost normative biological or psychological characteristics. (answers.com - an excellent online dictionary)

By the way, I don't know any degenerate Bob, okay! It's just a fictitious name...

[Sophie]

Thank you, Vi.
Have a nice day !!
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.