detract - Definitions from Dictionary.com

5 results for: detract

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

de·tract

Audio Help [di-trakt] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used without object)

1.	to take away a part, as from quality, value, or reputation (usually fol. by from).

–verb (used with object)

2.	to draw away or divert; distract: to detract another's attention from more important issues.

3.	Archaic. to take away (a part); abate: The dilapidated barn detracts charm from the landscape.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME (< MF detracter) < L détractus drawn away (ptp. of détrahere), equiv. to dé- de- + tractus drawn; see tract¹

]

—Related forms

de·tract·ing·ly, adverb

de·trac·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
detract

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·tract Audio Help   (dĭ-trākt') Pronunciation Key
v.   de·tract·ed, de·tract·ing, de·tracts

v.   tr.

To draw or take away; divert: They could detract little from so solid an argument.
Archaic To speak ill of; belittle.

v. intr.
To reduce the value, importance, or quality of something. Often used with from: testimony that only detracts from the strength of the plaintiff's case.

[Middle English detracten, from Latin dētrahere, dētract-, to remove : dē-, de- + trahere, to pull. Sense 2, from Latin dētractāre, frequentative of dētrahere, to take away.]

de·trac'tor n.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

detract
verb
take away a part from; diminish; "His bad manners detract from his good character" [syn: take away]

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

Detract

De*cry"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying.] [F. d['e]crier, OF. descrier; pref. des- (L. dis-) + crier to cry. See Cry, and cf. Descry.] To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage.

For small errors they whole plays decry. --Dryden.

Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other. --Addison.

Syn: To Decry, Depreciate, Detract, Disparage.

Usage: Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs it.

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

Detract

De*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. d['e]tracter. See Trace.]

1. To take away; to withdraw.

Detract much from the view of the without. --Sir H. Wotton.

2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame.

That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do. --Drayton.

Syn: To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.

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