derogation

derogation
    n 1: a communication that belittles somebody or something [syn:
         {disparagement}, {depreciation}, {derogation}]
    2: (law) the partial taking away of the effectiveness of a law;
       a partial repeal or abolition of a law; "any derogation of
       the common law is to be strictly construed"
    

Derogation \Der`o*ga"tion\, n. [L. derogatio: cf. F.
   d['e]rogation.]
   1. The act of derogating, partly repealing, or lessening in
      value; disparagement; detraction; depreciation; --
      followed by of, from, or to.
      [1913 Webster]

            I hope it is no derogation to the Christian
            religion.                             --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

            He counted it no derogation of his manhood to be
            seen to weep.                         --F. W.
                                                  Robertson.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Stock Exch.) An alteration of, or subtraction from, a
      contract for a sale of stocks.
      [1913 Webster]
    

DEROGATION, civil law. The partial abrogation of a law; to derogate from a 
law is to enact something which is contrary to it; to abrogate a law is' to 
abolish it entirely. Dig. lib. 50, t. 17, 1. 102. See Abrogation. 
    

78 Moby Thesaurus words for "derogation":
      attrition, belittling, comedown, contempt, curtailment, cut,
      cutting, debasement, decadence, decadency, declension, declination,
      decline, decrease, decrement, decrial, deformation, degeneracy,
      degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, demotion, depletion,
      depravation, depravedness, depreciation, descent, deterioration,
      detraction, devolution, diminution, dip, disapproval, discrediting,
      disgrace, disparagement, downtrend, downturn, downward mobility,
      downward trend, drop, dying, ebb, effeteness, extraction, fading,
      failing, failure, failure of nerve, faint praise, fall,
      falling-off, impairment, indignity, involution, knocking, lapse,
      lessening, loss of tone, lukewarm support, minimizing,
      putting down, reduction, regression, remission, retraction,
      retrenchment, retrocession, retrogradation, retrogression,
      shortening, shrinkage, slighting, slippage, slump, sour grapes,
      truncation, wane