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disparage - 5 dictionary results

dis⋅par⋅age

  [di-spar-ij]
Use disparage in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -aged, -ag⋅ing.
1. to speak of or treat slightingly; depreciate; belittle: Do not disparage good manners.
2. to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of: Your behavior will disparage the whole family.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < AF, OF desparag(i)er to match unequally, equiv. to des- dis- 1 + -parag(i)er, deriv. of parage equality, equiv. to par(er) to equalize (< L parāre; see peer 1 ) + -age -age

Related forms:
dis⋅par⋅ag⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. ridicule, discredit, mock, demean, denounce, derogate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To disparage
dis·par·age   (dĭ-spār'ĭj)   
tr.v.   dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es
  1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry.
  2. To reduce in esteem or rank.

[Middle English disparagen, to degrade, from Old French desparager : des-, dis- + parage, high birth (from per, peer; see peer2).]
dis·par'age·ment n., dis·par'ag·er n., dis·par'ag·ing·ly adv.
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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Disparage

Dis*par"age\ (?; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disparaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Disparaging.] [OF. desparagier, F. d['e]parager, to marry unequally; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. parage extraction, lineage, from L. par equal, peer. See Peer.]

1. To match unequally; to degrade or dishonor by an unequal marriage. [Obs.]

Alas! that any of my nation Should ever so foul disparaged be. --Chaucer.

2. To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to depreciate; to undervalue.

Those forbidding appearances which sometimes disparage the actions of men sincerely pious. --Bp. Atterbury.

Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms. --Milton.

Syn: To decry; depreciate; undervalue; underrate; cheapen; vilify; reproach; detract from; derogate from; degrade; debase. See Decry.

Disparage

Dis"pa*rage`\, n. Inequality in marriage; marriage with an inferior. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Dissuaded her from such a disparage. --Spenser.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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disparage 
c.1315, from O.Fr. desparagier "reduce in rank, degrade," originally "to cause to marry unequally," and thus by extension the disgrace or dishonor involved in this, from des- "away" + parage "rank, lineage" (see peerage). Sense of "belittle" first recorded 1536.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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