different between detract vs calumniate

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French détracter, from Latin detractum, past participle of detraho.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??t?ækt/
• Rhymes: -ækt

Verb

detract (third-person singular simple present detracts, present participle detracting, simple past and past participle detracted)

1. (intransitive) To take away; to withdraw or remove.
2. (transitive) To take credit or reputation from; to defame or decry.
   • 1604, Michael Drayton, Moses in a Map of his Miracles

     That calumnious critic […] / Detracting what laboriously we do.

Synonyms

• (to take credit or reputation from; to defame or decry): defame, decry
• See also Thesaurus:defame

Derived terms

• detraction
• detractor

Translations

Anagrams

• tracted

English

Etymology

From Latin calumni?tus, perfect active participle of calumnior (“I accuse falsely”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??l?mni.e?t/

Verb

calumniate (third-person singular simple present calumniates, present participle calumniating, simple past and past participle calumniated)

1. (transitive) To make hurtful untrue comments about.
   • a. 1555, John Hooper, A Brief Treatise respecting Judge Hales

     Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings.

   • 1905, Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes, chapter 1

     There are adherents of each of the four French parties—Legitimists, Orleanists, Imperialists, and Republicans—in this little mountain-town; and they all hate, loathe, decry, and calumniate each other.

2. (transitive) To levy a false charge against, especially of a vague offense, with the intent to damage someone's reputation or standing.

Synonyms

• (to make hurtful untrue statements): slander
• See also Thesaurus:defame

Related terms

• calumniation
• calumniator
• calumniatory
• calumnious
• calumny

Translations

Latin

Participle

calumni?te

1. vocative masculine singular of calumni?tus