Sentence:  This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had <WSD>dropped</WSD> to the level of a casual labourer. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To lessen, decrease, or diminish in value, condition, degree, etc. (from 18th c.)