▪ I. detracting, vbl. n.
(dɪˈtræktɪŋ)
[f. detract v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb detract, q.v.; † protraction (obs.); † shunning, avoiding (obs.); disparagement, detraction.
| 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 83 b, Fabius..so tempered Prudence with..prowesse, that by detracting of battayle, and trayning Anniball from place to place, and..skirmishing with hym, he minished hys puissaunce. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Hist. i. i. (1591) 1 Detracting and envyous carping. 1581 Styward Mart. Discipl. ii. 164 The detracting of time shall enforce vs to take counsaile when it is to late. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 135 The detracting of the time of our setting out. 1613 Jackson Creed i. 331 The Iewes detractings of our Sauiour. |
▪ II. detracting, ppl. a.
(dɪˈtræktɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That detracts; given to detraction; disparaging, depreciative.
| 1530 Palsgr. 310/1 Detractyng, belongyng to detractyon, detractoire. 1599 Marston Sc. Villanie ii. vi. 201 Hence ye big-buzzing, little-bodied Gnats..With your malignant, weake, detracting vaine. 1674 tr. Scheffer's Lapland v. 14 They are..of a censorious and detracting humor. 1718 Prideaux Connection ii. ii. 78 He had criticised in a very biting and detracting style. 1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 398 A man who is of a detracting spirit, will misconstrue the most innocent words. |
Hence deˈtractingly adv.
| 1598 Florio, Prauamente, wickedly..detractingly. 1761 Murphy All in Wrong v. i, I am not fond of speaking detractingly of a young lady. 1818 Coleridge Treat. Method in Encycl. Metrop., Mental Philos. (1847) 16 Why Bacon should have spoken detractingly of such a man. |