detract Hear it!

detract definition

de·tract (dē trakt′, di-)

transitive verb

  1. to take or draw away
  2. Now Rare to belittle; disparage

Etymology: ME detracten < L detractare, to decline, depreciate < detractus, pp. of detrahere, to draw away < de-, from + trahere, to draw

intransitive verb

to take something desirable away (from) frowning detracts from her beauty

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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