Main Entry:

²pejorative

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Late Latin pejoratus, past participle of pejorare to make or become worse, from Latin pejor worse; akin to Sanskrit padyate he falls, Latin ped-, pes foot — more at foot

Date:

circa 1888

: having negative connotations ; especially : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory

— pe·jo·ra·tive·ly adverb