5 results for: deprecate

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dep·re·cate

Audio Help [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

—Synonyms 1. condemn, denounce, disparage. See decry.

—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.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
deprecate

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dep·re·cate Audio Help (děp'rĭ-kāt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·pre·cat·ed, de·pre·cat·ing, de·pre·cates

To express disapproval of; deplore.
To belittle; depreciate.

[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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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

deprecate
verb
1.	express strong disapproval of; deplore
2.	belittle; "The teacher should not deprecate his student's efforts"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Deprecate

Dep"re*cate\ (d[e^]p"r[-e]*k[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprecated (-k[=a]`t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Deprecating (-k[=a]`t[i^]ng).] [L. deprecatus, p. p. of deprecari to avert by prayer, to deprecate; de- + precari to pray. See Pray.] To pray against, as an evil; to seek to avert by prayer; to desire the removal of; to seek deliverance from; to express deep regret for; to disapprove of strongly.

His purpose was deprecated by all round him, and he was with difficulty induced to adandon it. --Sir W. Scott.

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