depreciate
Definitions
To fall in value over time
贬值；折旧；跌价
To reduce the value of an asset in accounts over its useful life
（会计）计提折旧
To belittle or speak of as unimportant
贬低；轻视
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedde- (down) + preci (value) + -ate (verb) = 'to lower the value.' From Latin depretiare. The exact opposite of appreciate. Used for money (a currency depreciates), for assets (a car depreciates), and for words (to depreciate someone's effort = to talk it down).
Root pric still carries 56 more wordsWhy It Means This
Depreciate is best learned as the mirror of appreciate: de- (down) vs ap- (toward/up in value). Both inherit pretiare ('to value'); appreciate rates worth up, depreciate rates it down. The 'belittle' sense is the same downward motion applied to a person instead of money.
Common Collocations
- 1.depreciate in value价值下跌
- 2.rapidly depreciate迅速贬值
- 3.depreciate against the dollar对美元贬值
- 4.self-depreciating自贬的
Example Sentences
- 1.
New cars depreciate quickly in the first few years.
- 2.
The local currency has depreciated sharply against the dollar.
- 3.
He tends to depreciate his own achievements out of modesty.
Easily Confused
depreciate vs deprecate — easily confused: depreciate = lose value (a car depreciates). deprecate = express disapproval of / mark as obsolete (the API was deprecated). Different roots; only depreciate belongs here.