Advertisement
detriment (n.)
early 15c., "incapacity;" mid-15c., "any harm or injury," from Old French détriment or directly from Latin detrimentum "a rubbing off; a loss, damage, defeat," from past-participle stem of detere "to wear away," figuratively "to weaken, impair," from de "away" (see de-) + terere "to rub, wear" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn"). Meaning "that which causes harm or injury" is from c. 1500.
updated on August 04, 2018
Advertisement
Advertisement
Dictionary entries near detriment
detoxification
detoxify
detract
detraction
detractor
detriment
detrimental
detritus
Detroit
detrude
*deu-