- belittle
- 1781, "to make small," from little, first recorded in writings of Thomas Jefferson (and probably coined by him), who was execrated for it in England.
"Belittle! What an expression! It may be an elegant one in Virginia, and even perfectly intelligible; but for our part, all we can do is to guess at its meaning. For shame, Mr. Jefferson!" ["European Magazine and London Review," 1787, reporting on "Notes on the State of Virginia"; to guess was considered another barbarous Yankeeism.]
The fig. sense of "depreciate, scorn as worthless" is from 1797.