belittlev.
/bᵻˈlɪtl/, U.S. /bəˈlɪd(ə)l/, /biˈlɪd(ə)l/ Originally U.S.
1.
a. transitive. To reduce in size, make small.Now with overtones of, and difficult to distinguish from, sense 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > reduce in size or extent [verb (transitive)]
thinc900
narroweOE
smalleOE
slakea1300
adminisha1325
minisha1382
reduce?c1400
diminish1417
littlea1500
extenuate1555
enstraiten1590
scantle1596
scant1599
bedwarfa1631
epitomize1630
dwarf1638
retrench1640
stunt1659
to take in1700
belittle1785
dwarfify1816
reduct1819
micrify1836
clip1858
downsize1977
1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia vi. 118 So far the Count de Buffon has carried this new theory of the tendency of nature to belittle her productions on this side the Atlantic.
1846 G. H. Calvert Scenes & Thoughts in Europe 20 The billowy sea of Shakspeare is belittled to a smooth pond, in every part whereof you can touch bottom.
1866 N.Y. Herald 5 Jan. 4/4 His occupation is not absolutely gone; but the end of the war has belittled it sadly.
1908 A. Akers-Douglas 24 Mar. in Parl. Deb. 1247 I thought hon. Gentlemen opposite rather belittled the amount of work in order that they might not incur the charge of having recklessly gone into increased expenditure.
b. transitive. To cause to appear small; to dwarf. Now literary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > reduce in size or extent [verb (transitive)] > apparently
dwarf1745
belittle1825
1825 ‘L. Langshank’ Things in Gen. vii. 208 It was the grandeur of nature, compared with which all the efforts of man were dwarfed and belittled.
1850 S. F. Cooper Rural Hours I. 127 The hills..belittle the sheet of water.
1862 B. Taylor At Home & Abroad 2nd Ser. i. 22 A tower..not so tall as to belittle the main building.
1988 K. Corcoran Qiryat Sepher A man drawn to the spire Belittled by the foreground tree At the foot of which a rabbit eats.
2. transitive. To dismiss the importance of, depreciate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > disparagement or depreciation > disparage or depreciate [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
low1340
dispraisec1386
minish1402
deroge1427
detractc1449
descryc1450
detrayc1475
dismerit1484
decline1509
vilipend1509
disprize?1518
disable1528
derogatea1530
elevate1541
disparagea1556
detrect1563
debase1565
demerit1576
vilify1586
disgrace1589
detracta1592
besparage1592
enervate1593
obtrect1595
extenuate1601
disvalue1605
disparagon1610
undervalue1611
avile1615
debaucha1616
to cry down1616
debate1622
decry1641
atomize1645
underrate1646
naucify1653
dedignify1654
stuprate1655
de-ample1657
dismagn1657
slur1660
voguec1661
depreciate1666
to run down1671
baffle1674
lacken1674
sneer1706
diminish1712
substract1728
down1780
belittle1789
carbonify1792
to speak scorn of1861
to give one a back-cap1903
minoritize1947
mauvais langue1952
rubbish1953
down-talk1959
marginalize1970
marginate1970
trash1975
neg1987
1789 W. Brown Better Sort v. 31 If you persevere to belittle my country, you'll anger me sorely.
1797 Independent Chron. (U.S.) 30 Mar. [He] is..an honorable man,..let the writers..endeavour to belittle him as much as they please.
1837 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker 1st Ser. (ed. 2) xxii. 226 When..they began to raise my dander, by belittleing the Yankees.
1862 A. Trollope N. Amer. II. 25 Washington was a great man, and I believe a good man. I, at any rate, will not belittle him.
1881 Pall Mall Gaz. 10 Dec. 20/2 The Times in 1809 belittled the victory of Talavera.
1902 Westm. Gaz. 12 June 3/1 His enemies were on the pounce to belittle his efforts and misinterpret his motives.
1952 R. C. Hutchinson Recoll. of Journey ix. 212 A shrewd doctor who gently belittles some small complaint.
2004 Daily Tel. 29 Mar. 15/1 In the weekly Fun and Fellowship group meeting,..Jill loses no opportunity to undermine and belittle the painfully polite Cathy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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