derogatory
UK/di'rɒgәtәri/US
GREC2
Definitions
adj.
Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude; belittling or insulting.
贬损的；贬义的；轻蔑的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedde-down, away, reversal
+
-atoryrelating to, connected with
=derogatory
de- (down, away) + rog (propose) + -atory (adj.) = 'tending to propose down.' The legal verb derogate meant to chip away at a law; applied to people, chipping away at someone's standing is belittling them. Derogatory words drag a person down.
Root rog still carries 8 more wordsWhy It Means This
The path runs from law to insult. To derogate a law was to partly repeal it — to take something away from it. When that 'taking away' is aimed at a person's reputation, it becomes belittling. So derogatory remarks are words that subtract from someone's dignity: slurs, put-downs, sneering comments.
Common Collocations
- 1.derogatory term贬义词
- 2.derogatory remark贬损性评论
- 3.derogatory language贬义语言
- 4.derogatory comment贬损的言论
Example Sentences
- 1.
He was suspended for making derogatory remarks about a colleague.
- 2.
The term is now considered derogatory and offensive.