detraction
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English detraction, detraccion, detraccioun, from Old French detraccion, from Latin dētractiō.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
detraction (countable and uncountable, plural detractions)
- The act of detracting something, or something detracted; taking away; diminution.
- A derogatory or malicious statement; a disparagement, misrepresentation or slander.
- a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number). Of Industry in General”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:
- If indeed we consider all the frivolous and petulant discourse, the impertinent chattings, the rash censures, the spiteful detractions which are so rife in the world […]
- (Roman Catholicism) The act of revealing previously unknown faults of another person to a third person.
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:slander