Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English <
Old French, equivalent to
dam (<
Latin damnum damage, fine) +
-age -age; see
damn Related forms dam·age·a·ble, adjective
dam·age·a·ble·ness, dam·age·a·bil·i·ty, noun
dam·ag·er, noun
non·dam·age·a·ble, adjective
pre·dam·age, noun, verb (used with object), pre·dam·aged, pre·dam·ag·ing.
qua·si-dam·aged, adjective
re·dam·age, verb (used with object), re·dam·aged, re·dam·ag·ing.
un·dam·age·a·ble, adjective
un·dam·aged, adjective
Synonyms
1. loss. Damage, detriment, harm, mischief refer to injuries of various kinds. Damage is the kind of injury or the effect of injury that directly impairs appearance, value, usefulness, soundness, etc.: Fire causes damage to property. Detriment is a falling off from an original condition as the result of damage, depreciation, devaluation, etc.: Overeating is a detriment to health. Harm may denote either physical hurt or mental, moral, or spiritual injury: bodily harm; harm to one's self-confidence. Mischief may be damage, harm, trouble, or misfortune caused by a person, especially if maliciously: an enemy who would do one mischief. 4. impair, hurt.