be·lit·tle (bĭ-lĭt'l) tr.v. be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling, be·lit·tles
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"Belittle! What an expression! It may be an elegant one in Virginia, and even perfectly intelligible; but for our part, all we can do is to guess at its meaning. For shame, Mr. Jefferson!" ["European Magazine and London Review," 1787, reporting on "Notes on the State of Virginia"; to guess was considered another barbarous Yankeeism.]The fig. sense of "depreciate, scorn as worthless" is from 1797.