In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
DEROGATE
minimize, belittle, denigrate, derogate
(verb) cause to seem less serious; play down; “Don’t belittle his influence”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
derogate (third-person singular simple present derogates, present participle derogating, simple past and past participle derogated)
(obsolete, transitive) To partially repeal (a law etc.). [16th-17th c.]
(transitive) To detract from (something); to disparage, belittle. [from 16th c.]
(ambitransitive) To take away (something from something else) in a way which leaves it lessened. [from 16th c.]
(intransitive) To remove a part, to detract from (a quality of excellence, authority etc.). [from 16th c.]
(intransitive) To act in a manner below oneself; to debase oneself. [from 17th c.]
Usage notes
The verb is relatively uncommon, but the related adjective derogatory is common.
Synonyms
• decry
• (to disparage, belittle): vilify
• (to detract from (a quality of excellence, authority etc.)): abase
Antonyms
• (to disparage, belittle): praise
• (to detract from (a quality of excellence, authority etc.)): exalt
Adjective
derogate (comparative more derogate, superlative most derogate)
(archaic) debased
Anagrams
• dogeater, erogated
Source: Wiktionary
Der"o*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derogated; p. pr. & vb. n. Derogating.] Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p. of derogare to derogate; de- + rogare to ask, to ask the people about a law. See Rogation.]
1. To annul in part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit the action of; -- said of a law. By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil and canon laws are controlled and derogated. Sir M. Hale.
2. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage; to depreciate; -- said of a person or thing. [R.] Anything . . . that should derogate, minish, or hurt his glory and his name. Sir T. More.
Der"o*gate, v. i.
1. To take away; to detract; to withdraw; -- usually with from. If we did derogate from them whom their industry hath made great. Hooker. It derogates little from his fortitude, while it adds infinitely to the honor of his humanity. Burke.
2. To act beneath one-s rank, place, birth, or character; to degenerate. [R.] You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, being foolish, do not derogate. Shak. Would Charles X. derogate from his ancestors Would he be the degenerate scion of that royal line Hazlitt.
Der"o*gate, n. Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p.]
Definition: Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
16 April 2025
RACY
(adjective) marked by richness and fullness of flavor; “a rich ruby port”; “full-bodied wines”; “a robust claret”; “the robust flavor of fresh-brewed coffee”
Coffee Trivia
