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Webster 1913 Edition

Detract

De-tract′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Detracted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Detracting
.]
[L.
detractus
, p. p. of
detrahere
to detract;
de
+
trahere
to draw: cf. F.
détracter
. See
Trace
.]
1.
To take away; to withdraw.
Detract
much from the view of the without.
Sir H. Wotton.
2.
To take credit or reputation from; to defame.
Syn. – To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See
Decry
.

De-tract′

,
Verb.
I.
To take away a part or something, especially from one’s credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; – often with from.
It has been the fashion to
detract
both from the moral and literary character of Cicero.
V. Knox.

Webster 1828 Edition

Detract

DETRACT

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to draw. See Draw and Drag.]
1.
Literally, to draw from. Hence, to take away from reputation or merit, through envy, malice or other motive; hence, to detract from, is to lessen or depreciate reputation or worth; to derogate from.
Never circulate reports that detract from the reputation or honor of your neighbor, without obvious necessity to justify the act.
2.
To take away; to withdraw, in a literal sense.

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