DEGREE.

DEGREE'. This word is used to signify rank or station. Ps 62:9; 1 Tim 3:13. The phrase "song, or psalm of degrees," which forms the title to Psalms 120-134 inclusive, has been variously interpreted; some suppose it has reference to the elevated voice in which they were sung, others to the time when they were sung-viz. at the annual festivals, when the Jews went up to Jerusalem, and that in this sense they were called "odes of ascension." The Rabbins suppose they were sung by the Levites as they ascended the 15 steps which separated the men's court from the women's in the temple; and others again suppose that the word "degree" denotes the peculiarly climacteric style of these Psalms-viz. that the thought or expression of one verse is resumed and carried forward in the next succeeding verse, as in Psalm 121; but this is improbable.

DEGREE'. This word is used to signify rank or station. Ps 62:9; 1 Tim 3:13. The phrase "song, or psalm of degrees," which forms the title to Psalms 120-134 inclusive, has been variously interpreted; some suppose it has reference to the elevated voice in which they were sung, others to the time when they were sung-viz. at the annual festivals, when the Jews went up to Jerusalem, and that in this sense they were called "odes of ascension." The Rabbins suppose they were sung by the Levites as they ascended the 15 steps which separated the men's court from the women's in the temple; and others again suppose that the word "degree" denotes the peculiarly climacteric style of these Psalms-viz. that the thought or expression of one verse is resumed and carried forward in the next succeeding verse, as in Psalm 121; but this is improbable.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A step, stair, or staircase. [Obs.] By ladders, or else by degree. Rom. of R.

2. One of a series of progressive steps upward or downward, in quality, rank, acquirement, and the like; a stage in progression; grade; gradation; as, degrees of vice and virtue; to advance by slow degrees; degree of comparison.

3. The point or step of progression to which a person has arrived; rank or station in life; position. "A dame of high degree." Dryden. "A knight is your degree." Shak. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell.

4. Measure of advancement; quality; extent; as, tastes differ in kind as well as in degree. The degree of excellence which proclaims genius, is different in different times and different places. Sir. J. Reynolds.

5. Grade or rank to which scholars are admitted by a college or university, in recognition of their attainments; as, the degree of bachelor of arts, master, doctor, etc.

6. A certain distance or remove in the line of descent, determining the proximity of blood; one remove in the chain of relationship; as, a relation in the third or fourth degree. In the 11th century an opinion began to gain ground in Italy, that third cousins might marry, being in the seventh degree according to the civil law. Hallam.

7. Three figures taken together in numeration; thus, 140 is one degree, 222,140 two degrees.

8. State as indicated by sum of exponents; more particularly, the degree of a term is indicated by the sum of the exponents of its literal factors; thus, a2b2c is a term of the sixth degree. The degree of a power, or radical, is denoted by its index, that of an equation by the greatest sum of the exponents of the unknown quantities in any term; thus, ax4 + bx2 = c, and mx2y2 + nyx = p, are both equations of the fourth degree.

9. A 360th part of the circumference of a circle, which part is taken as the principal unit of measure for arcs and angles. The degree is divided into 60 minutes and the minute into 60 seconds.

10. A division, space, or interval, marked on a mathematical or other instrument, as on a thermometer.

11. A line or space of the staff.