Pejorating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To lower the value or status of an idea or person
2. Undergoing a decline in worth or esteem over time
3. Experiencing a process where something becomes less favorable or respected

Etymology: "Pejorate" is a back-formation: speakers took the adjective "pejorative" and reshaped it into a verb, so the verb is a later and more specialized creation. "Pejorative" comes from French "péjoratif," which draws on Latin "pejor," meaning "worse." The Latin word is a comparative, but its deeper origin is uncertain. The verb describes change in a word's associations rather than in the thing it names. A term that once described something neutral or positive can gradually pick up a negative tone. "Silly" is a classic case: in Old English "sælig" meant "blessed" or "fortunate," and over many centuries it slid toward "foolish."