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belittle
- 3 dictionary resultsbe⋅lit⋅tle
[bi-lit-l] 
l
–verb (used with object), -tled, -tling.
| to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Link To belittle
| be·lit·tle (bĭ-lĭt'l) tr.v. be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling, be·lit·tles
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
belittle
1781, "to make small," from little, first recorded in writings of Thomas Jefferson (and probably coined by him), who was execrated for it in England.
"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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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