from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Detract \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['e]tracter. See
{Trace}.]
1. To take away; to withdraw.
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Detract much from the view of the without. --Sir H.
Wotton.
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2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame.
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That calumnious critic . . .
Detracting what laboriously we do. --Drayton.
Syn: To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse;
vilify; defame; traduce. See {Decry}.
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