pejorate

English

Etymology

From Latin peiōrāt-, the participle stem of peiorō (“make worse”), from peior (“worse”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpiːdʒəɹeɪt/, /ˈpɛdʒəɹeɪt/

Verb

pejorate (third-person singular simple present pejorates, present participle pejorating, simple past and past participle pejorated)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To become or make (something) worse; to deteriorate, to worsen.
   • 1892, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Lord Advocate Prestongrange”, in Catriona, London; Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson & Sons, →OCLC, page 49:

     You do not appear to me to recognize the gravity of your situation, or you would be more careful not to pejorate the same by words which glance upon the purity of justice.

Related terms

• pejoration
• pejorative
• pejorist

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “pejorate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Latin

Verb

pejōrāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of pejōrō