Bernard Leak wrote: > Randy McMurchy wrote: >> My dictionary shows the two words to be synonyms. > > Since you raised the point, I checked. Mine doesn't. Normally I'd use > the OED, but my copy is a long way away: I'm using the SOD as a > temporary substitute. If your dictionary says something different, it's > weird > and wrong. What IS your dictionary?
www.dictionary.com: de‧pre‧ci‧ate /dɪˈpriʃiˌeɪt/ –verb (used with object) 1. to reduce the purchasing value of (money). 2. to lessen the value or price of. 3. to claim depreciation on (a property) for tax purposes. 4. to represent as of little value or merit; belittle. –verb (used without object) 5. to decline in value. [Origin: 1640–50; < LL dēpretiātus undervalued (ptp. of dēpretiāre, in ML sp. dēpreciāre), equiv. to L dē- de- + preti(um) price + -ātus -ate1] —Related forms de‧pre‧ci‧at‧ing‧ly, adverb de‧pre‧ci‧a‧tor, noun —Synonyms 4. disparage, decry, minimize. —Usage note 4. See deprecate. dep‧re‧cate /ˈdɛprɪˌkeɪt/ –verb (used with object), -cat‧ed, -cat‧ing. 1. to express earnest disapproval of. 2. to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.). 3. to depreciate; belittle. 4. Archaic. to pray for deliverance from. [Origin: 1615–25; < L dēprecātus prayed against, warded off (ptp. of dēprecārī), equiv. to dē- de- + prec(ārī) to pray + -ātus -ate1] —Related forms dep‧re‧cat‧ing‧ly, adverb dep‧re‧ca‧tion, noun dep‧re‧ca‧tor, noun —Synonyms 1. condemn, denounce, disparage. See decry. —Usage note An early and still the most current sense of deprecate is “to express disapproval of.” In a sense development still occasionally criticized by a few, *deprecate has come to be synonymous with the similar but etymologically unrelated word depreciate in the sense “belittle”*: The author modestly deprecated the importance of his work. In compounds with self-, deprecate has almost totally replaced depreciate in modern usage: Her self-deprecating account of her career both amused and charmed the audience. ------------------- So they are kinda synonyms, but deprecate is probably the better word. -- Bruce -- http://linuxfromscratch.org/mailman/listinfo/blfs-dev FAQ: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/faq.html Unsubscribe: See the above information page
