disparage

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French desparager, from des- + parage (“equal rank, rank”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɪsˈpæɹɪd͡ʒ/

Noun

disparage (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Inequality in marriage; marriage with an inferior.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.8:

     But, for his meane degree might not aspire / To match so high, her friends with counsell sage / Dissuaded her from such a disparage […]

Verb

disparage (third-person singular simple present disparages, present participle disparaging, simple past and past participle disparaged)

1. To match unequally; to degrade or dishonor.
2. To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to depreciate; to undervalue.
   • Bishop Atterbury

     those forbidding appearances which sometimes disparage the actions of men sincerely pious

   • Milton

     Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms.

3. To ridicule, mock, discredit.

Further reading

• disparage in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• disparage in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• disparage at OneLook Dictionary Search