degradation vs wreath

degradation

noun
  • The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement. 

  • Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration. 

  • The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society 

  • A deleterious change in the chemical structure, physical properties or appearance of a material from natural or artificial exposure. 

  • The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration. 

  • Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole. 

  • The gradual breakdown of components of a material, as a result of a natural element, i.e.: heat, cold and wind. 

  • A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc. 

wreath

verb
  • To place an entwined circle of flowers upon or around something. 

  • To curl, writhe or spiral in the form of a wreath. 

  • To wrap around something in a circle. 

noun
  • An ornamental circular band made, for example, of plaited flowers and leaves, and used as decoration; a garland or chaplet, especially one given to a victor. 

  • An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and supporting the crest; an orle, a torse. It generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the principal color in the coat of arms. 

  • A defect in glass. 

  • Something twisted, intertwined, or curled. 

How often have the words degradation and wreath occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )