deprecate
3 dictionary results for: Deprecating
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
dep·re·cate 
[dep-ri-keyt] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[dep-ri-keyt] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object), -cat·ed, -cat·ing.
| 1. | to express earnest disapproval of. |
| 2. | to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.). |
| 3. | to depreciate; belittle. |
| 4. | Archaic. to pray for deliverance from. |
[Origin: 1615–25; < L déprecātus prayed against, warded off (ptp. of déprecārī), equiv. to dé- de- + prec(ārī) to pray + -ātus -ate1]
] —Related forms
dep·re·cat·ing·ly, adverb
dep·re·ca·tion, noun
dep·re·ca·tor, noun
—Usage note An early and still the most current sense of deprecate is “to express disapproval of.” In a sense development still occasionally criticized by a few, deprecate has come to be synonymous with the similar but etymologically unrelated word depreciate in the sense “belittle”: The author modestly deprecated the importance of his work. In compounds with self-, deprecate has almost totally replaced depreciate in modern usage: Her self-deprecating account of her career both amused and charmed the audience.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| dep·re·cate
(děp'rĭ-kāt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·pre·cat·ed, de·pre·cat·ing, de·pre·cates
[Latin dēprecārī, dēprecāt-, to ward off by prayer : dē-, de- + precārī, to pray; see prek- in Indo-European roots.] dep're·cat'ing·ly adv., dep're·ca'tion n., dep're·ca'tor n. Usage Note: The first and fully accepted meaning of deprecate is "to express disapproval of." But the word has steadily encroached on the meaning of depreciate. It is now used, almost to the exclusion of depreciate, in the sense "to belittle or mildly disparage," as in He deprecated his own contribution. In an earlier survey, this newer sense was approved by a majority of the Usage Panel. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| deprecating | |
adjective | |
| tending to diminish or disparage; "belittling comments"; "managed a deprecating smile at the compliment"; "deprecatory remarks about the book"; "a slighting remark" [syn: belittling] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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