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denigrate

verb, adj — 4 senses

denigrate

verb

CA, US, UK /ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/ · AU /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹæɪ̯t/

Etymology Derived from Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) [see -ate (verb-forming suffix)], from dē- (“of; from”) + nigrō (“to blacken”) [from niger (“black”)]. Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”).

1

To criticize so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.

  • What grand engines they were! Yet I have noticed a disposition on the part of quite a diversity of present-day commentators to denigrate those engines.1960 May 23, O. S. Nock, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 343:
  • Although in public Soviet officials tend to denigrate the French electric locomotives imported recently, there is little doubt that lessons learnt from these engines will be incorporated in new Russian designs.1963 January, “Beyond the Channel: U.S.S.R.”, in Modern Railways, page 62:
2

To treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage.

  • You have no right to denigrate people and things that you have no personal experience with.
3

Rare To blacken.

Derived terms
denigration, denigrative, denigrator, denigratory

denigrate

adj

Etymology Derived from Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) [see -ate (verb-forming suffix)], from dē- (“of; from”) + nigrō (“to blacken”) [from niger (“black”)]. Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”).

1

Biology, Botany, Natural sciences Blackened.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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