- disparage
- early 14c., from O.Fr. desparagier "reduce in rank, degrade," originally "to cause to marry unequally," and thus by extension the disgrace or dishonor involved in this, from des- "away" + parage "rank, lineage" (see peer (n.)). Sense of "belittle" first recorded 1530s. Related: Disparaged; disparaging; disparagingly.