demoralize, v.
(dɪˈmɒrəlaɪz)
[a. F. démoralise-r (f. de- II. 1 + moral a. + -ize), a word of the French Revolution, condemned by Laharpe, admitted by the Acad. 1798.]
1. trans. To corrupt the morals or moral principles of; to deprave or pervert morally.
| c 1793 Webster in Lyell Trav. N. Amer. I. 65 When..Noah Webster..was asked how many new words he had coined, he replied only ‘to demoralize’, and that not in his dictionary, but long before in a pamphlet published in the last century [about 1793]. 1808 Southey Lett. (1856) II. 105 One of the worst principled men who ever lent his aid to debase, demoralize, and debilitate human nature. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 102 People..demoralised by the habit of looking at society exclusively from the juridical point of view. |
b. To deprive (a thing) of its moral influence or effectiveness.
| 1869 Spectator 24 July 863 In a case where this sort of protestation of innocence,—tending to demoralize the gallows,—appeals to the passions of the people. |
2. To lower or destroy the power of bearing up against dangers, fatigue, or difficulties (F. le moral: see morale): applied esp. to an army or a people under arms; also transf. to take from anything its firmness, staying power, etc.
| 1848 Gallenga Italy II. ii. 39 Foscolo was intended for a man of action and strife: ease and fortune unnerved and demoralised him. 1874 Green Short Hist. vi. §i. 270 The long series of English victories had..demoralized the French soldiery. 1894 Daily News 2 June 3/7 The market became demoralized owing to foreign advices, heavy liquidations, foreign selling, and better crop news. |
Hence deˈmoralized, deˈmoralizing ppl. adjs.
| 1808 Crit. Rev. Aug. (T.), The pernicious influence of their demoralizing creed. 1817 J. Scott Paris Revisit. (ed. 4) 401 The demoralized state of the public character. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 133 Miracles..have necessarily a very demoralising effect. |