I.adj. comp. (sup. deterrimus, a um) [from an obs. adj. deter, from de, down; hence, lower, inferior, worse], worse, poorer, meaner (freq. and class.—for syn. cf.: malus, injustus, improbus; pravus, nequam, corruptus, perversus; and the compp. pejor, etc.).
I. Of inanimate things: seges, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 2, 5, 13: “ruina rem non fecit deteriorem, haud scio an jam fructuosiorem,” Cic. Att. 14, 11 fin.: so, vectigalia, * Caes. B. G. 1, 36, 4: “muraena carne,” Hor. S. 2, 8, 44: “deterior ac decolor aetas,” Verg. A. 8, 326: “forma,” Lucr. 4, 1275: “mores,” Plaut. Merc. 5, 1, 9: “via,” id. Trin. 3, 2, 54 et saep.: “video meliora proboque, Deteriora sequor,” Ov. M. 7, 21: “cuncta aucta in deterius,” Tac. A. 2, 82; 3, 10; id. H. 3, 13 al.—Sup.: “genus reipublicae ex bono in deterrimum conversum,” Cic. Rep. 2, 26; so, “genus,” id. ib. 1, 42: “finis,” id. Lael. 16, 59: “causa belli,” Hor. S. 1, 3, 107: “color,” Verg. G. 3, 82: “cogitare optima simul et deterrima,” Quint. 12, 1, 4 et saep.—
II. Of persons: “quo deteriores anteponantur bonis,” Plaut. Poen. prol. 39; “opp. melior,” Cic. Phil. 13, 19; Quint. 2, 4, 21 al.; “opp. optimus,” Liv. 39, 27; “opp. strenuior,” Plaut. Ep. 3, 4, 10: “vidi ego nequam homines, verum te neminem deteriorem,” id. Bac. 5, 2, 61 et saep.: “peditatu erat deterior,” weaker, Nep. Eum. 3 fin.: “infideli deterior,” Vulg. 1 Tim. 5, 8.—Sup.: “homo deterrime et impudentissime,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 16; id. Tusc. 1, 33, 81.—dēterius , adv., worse, less: “de male Graecis Latine scripta deterius,” Cic. Fin. 1, 3, 8: “nequi deterius huic sit quam quoi pessumest,” Plaut. Capt. 3, 5, 80: valeo, Luccei. ap. Cic. Fam. 5, 14: “olet herba,” Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 19: “spe nostra si placeant,” id. S. 1, 10, 90.
