To run down

[irmamar]

What does "run down" mean here?

Scotland's monasteries, already deliberately run down by James V...

Something like "abandonados" o "derruidos"?

Thanks.

[Perikles]

It means deliberately to diminish in size:

» run down
Sense I verb + object + adverb, verb + adverb + object
A
1 (exhaust) ‹battery› (Cars) descargar*; (in radio, shaver etc) gastar
2 (reduce) ‹staff/services› ir* recortando or reduciendo; ‹production› ir* restringiendo
3 (deplete) ‹stocks/supplies› agotar
B (disparage) (colloquial) criticar*, hablar mal de
C (knock over) ‹pedestrian› atropellar
D ‹fugitive/criminal› darle* caza a
Sense II verb + adverb
1 «battery» (Cars) descargarse*; (in radio, shaver etc) gastarse, agotarse
2 «business/factory» venirse* abajo
3 «stocks/supplies» agotarse

[irmamar]

¿Degradados, con menos prestigio?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

¿Degradados, con menos prestigio?

Si, más o menos.

[irmamar]

Thank you.

[Awaken]

Is James V the leader of Scotland at this time?

If so, when I think of run down, I think of "in neglected condition; fallen into disrepair: a run-down house."

Just a thought.

[irmamar]

No, James died in 1542 and Scotland joined to the kingdom of England in 1707 to form the kingdom of Great Britain. Now Elizabeth II is the queen of Great Britain.

Both Great Britain and Spain, before they became countries (or kingdoms), they were divided into several kingdoms. That may be the reason why these countries are not really joined at all.