English Explanatory Dictionary

vilipend

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To treat (something) as inconsequential or worthless; to despise, to look down on.
  2. To express a disparaging opinion of; to slander or vilify.

Pronunciation

/ˈvɪlɪpɛnd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-vilipend.wav /ˈvɪləˌpɛnd/

Word forms

vilipend vilipends vilipending vilipended no-table-tags glossary vilipendeth

Etymology

From Middle English vilipenden (“to treat (something) as contemptible”) [and other forms], from Old French vilipender (modern French vilipender (“to condemn, despise, revile, scorn, vilipend, vilify”)), or its etymon Latin vilipendō, from vīlis (“cheap, inexpensive; base, mean, vile, worthless”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wes- (“to buy, sell”)) + pendō (“to hang, suspend; to weigh, weigh out; (figuratively) to consider, ponder”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to stretch”)). The English word is cognate with Italian vilipendere (“to despise, scorn, vilipend”), Portuguese vilipendiar (“to vilify”), Spanish vilipendiar (“to vilify”).

Synonyms

belittle contemn misprize slight bagatellize banalize cut down de-emphasize denigrate degrade deprecate derogate disparage dispraise downplay lilliputianize make little of make nothing of minimize play down set at nought superficialize trivialize underestimate underplay understate vilipend abuse assassinate asperse backbite badmouth befoul belibel besmirch besmear bewray blacken blame blaze blemish blot blur calumniate calumny chat shit chat shite cloud defame demonize deprave depreciate detract dirty discredit disgrace disrepute diss drag through the mud forgab

Related words

vilification vilifier vilify

Derived words

vilipended vilipender vilipending
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