detraction

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a petty disparagement
  2. noun the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander)

Etymology

From Middle English detraction, detraccion, detraccioun, from Old French detraccion, from Latin dētractiō.

In classic literature

Synonyms

petty criticism

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading