pejorativen.adj.
/pᵻˈdʒɒrətɪv/, /ˈpiːdʒərətɪv/, U.S. /pəˈdʒɔrədɪv/, /ˈpɛdʒərədɪv/, /ˈpɛdʒəˌreɪdɪv/, /ˈpidʒərədɪv/ A. n.
A word or expression which by its form or context expresses or implies contempt for the thing named; a derogatory word or form.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [noun] > contemptuous word or term
pejorative1882
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [noun] > that which expresses other concept or relation
adversativea1504
concessive1651
honorific1778
reverential1845
pejorative1882
deliberative1887
reciprocal1961
evidentiality1980
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > connotation > [noun] > pejorative term
pejorative1882
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > types of semantic change > [noun] > word which has undergone
pejorative1882
meliorative1933
loan-shift1950
1882 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) (at cited word) Poetaster is a pejorative of poet.
1895 F. Hall Two Trifles i. Rejoinder 35 Horne Tooke's pejorative grammatist, based on the unclassical Latin grammatista, was..formerly in some vogue.
1965 Listener 17 June 911/3 One of the panel spoke of ‘Who's-for-tennis’ comedy,..now a too-familiar pejorative.
2002 Delaware Beach Life Aug. 31/1 I am proud to be a tree-hugger. I think it's fine. It's used as a pejorative.
B. adj.
Depreciatory, contemptuous; (Linguistics) giving or acquiring a less favourable meaning or connotation.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [adjective] > contemptuous
ollinga1200
hokerfula1275
scorningc1325
deignousc1330
despitousa1340
disdainousc1374
lightlya1400
scornfula1400
despiteous14..
endeignousc1400
hathlya1425
spitefulc1440
despitefula1450
fastidious?a1475
contemptuous1534
disdainfula1542
huff-nosed1542
lightliful1552
dainful1577
contemptible1594
sdeignful1596
disdained1598
contemptful1604
contemning1605
overlookinga1619
slight1632
slightinga1637
slightya1640
despisable1644
despicable1662
sneering1692
scornful1704
saucy1716
vilipendinga1722
fastidiose1730
unappreciating1833
scorny1836
high-sniffing1837
sniffy1871
sneery1872
sneerful1880
pejorativea1888
dismissive1930
sniffish1933
fuck you1962
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > types of semantic change > [adjective]
polarized1859
pejorativea1888
meliorative1902
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > connotation > [adjective] > pejorative
pejorativea1888
a1888 G. Masson Sel. Tales Mod. French Writers (1892) 252 This substantive has now a pejorative meaning.
1892 Notes & Queries 8th Ser. 2 151/2 The Italian boccaccia is a pejorative form of bocca, a mouth, equivalent to the modern colloquial English ‘ugly mug’.
1928 Times 19 Nov. 14/1 The question of her special Session is heavily charged with ‘politics’ in the pejorative sense of the word.
1996 S. Greenbaum Oxf. Eng. Gram. ix. 450 In formations from the sixteenth century, arch- is generally pejorative.
Derivatives
peˈjoratively adv. in an unfavourable sense; depreciative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > [adverb]
unfavourably1460
frowningly1556
unhappily1623
badly1660
disapprovingly1759
avertedly1867
pejoratively1890
old-fashioned1911
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > [adverb] > by way of underestimation or undervaluing
sinisterly1529
diminutively1613
inappreciatively1881
pejoratively1890
conservatively1904
meiotically1935
the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > connotation > [adverb] > pejoratively
pejoratively1890
1890 Cent. Dict. Pejoratively, in a low or bad sense.
1952 Times 11 Oct. 7/4 It was labelled ‘folky’, which when applied to Czechs and Hungarians is a term of commendation but is used pejoratively of English music.
1994 A. Theroux Primary Colors 124 Captain Queeg..is pejoratively nicknamed ‘Old Yellow Stain’ by the disgusted and eventually mutinous crew.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1882