deprecate

deprecate
deprecatingly, adv.deprecation, n.deprecator, n.
/dep"ri kayt'/, v.t., deprecated, deprecating.
1. to express earnest disapproval of.
2. to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.).
3. to depreciate; belittle.
4. Archaic. to pray for deliverance from.
[1615-25; < L deprecatus prayed against, warded off (ptp. of deprecari), equiv. to de- DE- + prec(ari) to PRAY + -atus -ATE1]
Syn. 1. condemn, denounce, disparage. See decry.
Usage. An early and still the most current sense of DEPRECATE is "to express disapproval of." In a sense development still occasionally criticized by a few, DEPRECATE has come to be synonymous with the similar but etymologically unrelated word DEPRECIATE in the sense "belittle": The author modestly deprecated the importance of his work. In compounds with self-, DEPRECATE has almost totally replaced DEPRECIATE in modern usage: Her self-deprecating account of her career both amused and charmed the audience.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • deprecate — deprecate, depreciate 1. The two words are similar in form and in current use overlap somewhat in meaning, but their origin is different. Deprecate is from Latin deprecari ‘to prevent by prayer’ and its primary current meaning is ‘to express… …   Modern English usage

  • deprecate — dep re*cate (d[e^]p r[ e]*k[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Deprecated} ( k[=a] t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Deprecating} ( k[=a] t[i^]ng).] [L. deprecatus, p. p. of deprecari to avert by prayer, to deprecate; de + precari to pray. See {Pray}.] To pray… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • deprecate — I verb abominari, asperse, belittle, berate, cast aspersions, charge, decry, demean, denigrate, denounce, deplore, derogate, detract, disapprove, disclaim, discommend, discredit, disdain, disfavor, dislike, disparage, dispraise, disvalue.… …   Law dictionary

  • deprecate — 1620s, to pray against or for deliverance from, from L. deprecatus, pp. of deprecari to pray (something) away (see DEPRECATION (Cf. deprecation)). Meaning to express disapproval is from 1640s. Related: Deprecated, deprecating …   Etymology dictionary

  • deprecate — *disapprove Analogous words: *deplore, lament, bewail, bemoan: reprobate, reprehend, condemn (see CRITICIZE) Antonyms: endorse Contrasted words: *approve, sanction: *commend, applaud …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • deprecate — [v] belittle, condemn cut down to size*, depreciate, derogate, detract, disapprove of, discommend, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, disparage, expostulate, frown, mudsling*, not go for*, object, pooh pooh*, poor mouth*, protest against, put… …   New thesaurus

  • deprecate — ► VERB 1) express disapproval of. 2) another term for DEPRECIATE(Cf. ↑depreciatory) (in sense 2). DERIVATIVES deprecation noun deprecatory adjective. ORIGIN originally in the sense pray to ward off evil : from Latin depre …   English terms dictionary

  • deprecate — [dep′rə kāt΄] vt. deprecated, deprecating [< L deprecatus, pp. of deprecari, to ward off by intercession < de , off, from + precari, PRAY] 1. to feel and express disapproval of; plead against 2. to depreciate; belittle 3. Archaic to try to… …   English World dictionary

  • deprecate — dep•re•cate [[t]ˈdɛp rɪˌkeɪt[/t]] v. t. cat•ed, cat•ing 1) to express earnest disapproval of 2) to depreciate; belittle • Etymology: 1615–25; < L dēprecātus, ptp. of dēprecārī to beg relief from, deprecate =dē de +precārī to pray dep′re•cat… …   From formal English to slang

  • deprecate — [[t]de̱prɪkeɪt[/t]] deprecates, deprecating, deprecated VERB If you deprecate something, you criticize it. [FORMAL] [V n] As time went on he also deprecated the low quality of entrants to the profession... [V n] As a lawyer, I would deprecate any …   English dictionary

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