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depreciate

[dih-pree-shee-eyt]
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verb (used with object), de·pre·ci·at·ed, de·pre·ci·at·ing.
  1. to reduce the purchasing value of (money).
  2. to lessen the value or price of.
  3. to claim depreciation on (a property) for tax purposes.
  4. to represent as of little value or merit; belittle.
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verb (used without object), de·pre·ci·at·ed, de·pre·ci·at·ing.
  1. to decline in value.
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Origin of depreciate

1640–50; < Late Latin dēpretiātus undervalued (past participle of dēpretiāre, in Medieval Latin spelling dēpreciāre), equivalent to Latin dē- de- + preti(um) price + -ātus -ate1
Related formsde·pre·ci·at·ing·ly, adverbde·pre·ci·a·tor, nounnon·de·pre·ci·at·ing, adjectivepre·de·pre·ci·ate, verb, pre·de·pre·ci·at·ed, pre·de·pre·ci·at·ing.re·de·pre·ci·ate, verb, re·de·pre·ci·at·ed, re·de·pre·ci·at·ing.un·de·pre·ci·at·ed, adjectiveun·der·de·pre·ci·ate, verb (used with object), un·der·de·pre·ci·at·ed, un·der·de·pre·ci·at·ing.
Can be confuseddeprecate depreciate (see usage note at deprecate)

Synonyms

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4. disparage, decry, minimize.

Usage note

4. See deprecate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for depreciate

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • I do not wish from what I have said to depreciate confidence, so necessary to man.

    Reflections

    Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld

  • Far be it from me, Sir, to depreciate merit so extraordinary.

    Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • He too will be apt to depreciate their application to the arts.

  • It is no compliment to the Creator to depreciate His handiwork.

  • It has been usual to depreciate modern languages when compared with ancient.

British Dictionary definitions for depreciate

depreciate

verb
  1. to reduce or decline in value or price
  2. (tr) to lessen the value of by derision, criticism, etc; disparage
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Derived Formsdepreciatingly, adverbdepreciator, noundepreciatory (dɪˈpriːʃɪətərɪ, -trɪ) or depreciative, adjective

Word Origin

C15: from Late Latin dēpretiāre to lower the price of, from Latin de- + pretium price

confusable

Avoid confusion with deprecate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for depreciate

v.

mid-15c., from Latin depretiatus, past participle of depretiare "to lower the price of, undervalue," from de- "down" (see de-) + pretium "price" (see price (n.)). Related: Depreciated; depreciating; depreciatory.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper