De*tract" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. d'etracter. See Trace.]

1.

To take away; to withdraw.

Detract much from the view of the without. Sir H. Wotton.

2.

To take credit or reputation from; to defame.

That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do. Drayton.

Syn. -- To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.

 

© Webster 1913.


De*tract", v. i.

To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; -- often with from.

It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary character of Cicero. V. Knox.

 

© Webster 1913.

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