Derogate word meaning and definition

[verb] belittle; "Don't belittle his influence"

\Der"o*gate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Derogated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Derogating}.] [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. [L. derogatus, p. p.] Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] --Shak.

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