▪ I. † diˈsparage, n. Obs.
Also 4–5 des-, disperage.
[ME. despaˈrage, dispeˈrage, a. OF. desparage unworthy marriage (Godef.), f. as next.]
1. Inequality of rank in marriage; an unequal match; disgrace resulting from marriage with one of inferior rank.
| c 1315 Shoreham 54 Ne may hem falle after thys lyf Non on-worth desperage. c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 852 Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage To his estaat so lowe for talighte. 1574 tr. Littleton's Tenures 23 b, No desparage shalbee but where he that hath the warde marieth him within the age of xiiij yeare. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. viii. 50 Her friends..Dissuaded her from such a disparage. |
2. Ill-matchedness; incongruity.
| c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 74 Pride in age Doiþ disperage. |
3. Disparagement, dishonour.
| a 1592 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 481 If I forbear..I blush, I fear His despite and my disparage. 1615 Heywood Foure Prentises i. Wks. 1874 II. 169, I hold it no disparage to my birth, Though I be borne an Earle, to haue the skill And the full knowledge of the Mercers Trade. |
▪ II. disparage, v.
(dɪˈspærɪdʒ)
Also 4 des-, 5 dys-; 5 dysparych, 7 disparadge, -parrage, -parge.
[a. OF. desparagier, desperager to match or cause to marry unequally; later ‘to offer vnto, or impose on a man vnfit, or vnworthie conditions’ (Cotgr.), f. des-, dis- 4 + parage equality of rank.]
† 1. trans. To match unequally; to degrade or dishonour by marrying to one of inferior rank. Obs.
| [1292 Britton iii. iii. §4 Et si acune de juvene age soit marié a tiel ou ele est desparagé. transl. If any female heir of tender years be married where she is disparaged.] c 1350 Will. Palerne 485, I nel leie mi loue so low..Desparaged were i disgisili ȝif i dede in þis wise. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxvii. 204 Moch was this fayr damysel dysparaged sith that she was maryed ayenst al the comune assent of England. 1611 Cotgr., Apparagé, a maid thats maried vnto her equall, or, thats not disparaged. 1779–81 Johnson L.P., Pope Wks. IV. 113 History relates that she was about to disparage herself by a marriage with an inferior. |
2. To bring discredit or reproach upon; to dishonour, discredit; to lower in credit or esteem.
| c 1386 Chaucer Reeve's T. 351 Who dorste be so boold to disparage My doghter that is come of swich lynage? a 1400 Pistill of Susan 253 Heo keuered vp on hir kneos, and cussed his hand: For I am dampned, I ne dar disparage þi mouþ. 1486 Bk. St. Albans B ij b, Then is the hawke disparagid for all that yere. 1612 Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. (1614) 657 The place oft-times disparages; As, to put the Arke of God into a Cart, or to set it by Dagon. 1691 Hartcliffe Virtues 406 Men disparage Religion who profess it, and do not guide their Actions according to its Doctrines. 1754 Foote Knights i. Wks. 1799 I. 69 If you tell father he'll knock my brains out, for he says I'll disparage the family. 1854 Brewster More Worlds Pref. 6 A view..calculated to disparage the science of astronomy. |
† 3. a. To lower in position or dignity; to degrade. b. To lower in one's own estimation; to cast down. Obs.
| 1496 Dives & Paup. (W. de W.) vi. xv. 258/1 Cryste..anentysshed hymself and dysparyched hymselfe in to the lykenesse of a seruaunt. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI (an. 28) 160 Lest they shoulde..declare his base byrthe, and lowsy lynage, desparagyng him from his usurped surname of Mortymer. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 2 How shall fraile pen, with fear disparaged, Conceive such soveraine glory and great bountyhed? 1614 H. Greenwood Jayle Delivery 471 They that are troubled and amazed at their sinnes, let them not be disparaged. 1704–5 Pope Let. to Wycherley 25 Jan., I am disparaged and disheartened by your commendations. 1716 Addison Drummer i. i, I'll not disparage myself to be a Servant in a House that is haunted. |
4. To speak of or treat slightingly; to treat as something lower than it is; to undervalue; to vilify.
| 1536 Cranmer in Four C. Eng. Lett. 14 They should not esteem any part of your grace's honour to be touched thereby, but her honour only to be clearly disparaged. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. ii. 131, I will disparage her no farther, till you are my witnesses. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 161 One dares question, yea disparage the sacred Scriptures of God. 1660 Hickeringill Jamaica (1661) 20 The Composition of..Chocoletta is now so vulgar, that I will not disparage my Reader by doubting his acquaintance in so known a Recipe. 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) II. 48 Took it ill of me that I should disparage the kings evidence. 1837–9 Hallam Hist. Lit. IV. vi. iv. §16. 267 It is a very narrow criticism which disparages Racine out of idolatry of Shakspeare. 1859 Mill Liberty ii. (1865) 26/1 It is the fashion of the present time to disparage negative logic. |
Hence diˈsparaged ppl. a.
| 1611 Cotgr., Desparagé, disparaged. 1802 Beddoes Hygëia v. 22 Would not the disparaged milk afford wholesome aliment? 1885 Gladstone Sp. Ho. Com. 23 Feb., A disparaged Government and a doubtful House of Commons. |