derogate

verb der·o·gate \ ˈder-ə-ˌgāt , ˈde-rə- \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

derogated; derogating

transitive verb

: to cause to seem inferior : disparage

derogating another's achievements

intransitive verb

1 : to take away a part so as to impair : detract

… a few instances of inaccuracy or mediocrity can never derogate from the superlative merit of Homer and Vergil …
—Oliver Goldsmith

2 : to act beneath one's position or character

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derogation

play \ˌder-ə-ˈgā-shən, ˌde-rə-\ noun

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derogative

play \di-ˈrä-gə-tiv\ adjective

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Examples of derogate in a Sentence

The title of the book derogates the people it is about.
Her parents are constantly derogating her achievements.

Recent Examples of derogate from the Web

The key issue is who has the final authority to determine whether the play derogates the spirit or alters the characters.

— jack greiner, Cincinnati.com, "Greiner column: Will litigation kill stage version of "To Kill A Mockingbird"?," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'derogate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

You're probably familiar with derogatory, the adjective meaning "expressing a low opinion," but you may not be as well-acquainted with the less common verb, derogate. Both words can be traced back to the Late Latin word derogatus, which is the past participle of the verb derogare, meaning "to detract" or "to annul (a law)." Derogare, in turn, derives from the Latin word for "ask," rogare. Derogate first appeared in English in the 15th century. Derogatory was adopted in the early 16th century, and has become much more popular than the verb. Other derogate relatives include derogative, derogation, and derogatorily.

Origin and Etymology of derogate

Middle English, from Late Latin derogatus, past participle of derogare, from Latin, to annul (a law), detract, from de- + rogare to ask, propose (a law) — more at right

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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