PEJORATIVE


Meaning of PEJORATIVE in English

I. pi-ˈjȯr-ə-tiv, -ˈjär- also ˈpe-jə-rə-tiv or ˈpē- or -ˌrā- or ˈpej-rə- or ˈpēj- noun

Date: 1882

: a pejorative word or phrase

II. adjective

Etymology: Late Latin pejoratus, past participle of pejorare to make or become worse, from Latin pejor worse; akin to Sanskrit padyate he falls, Latin ped-, pes foot — more at foot

Date: circa 1888

: having negative connotations ; especially : tending to disparage or belittle : depreciatory

• pe·jo·ra·tive·ly adverb

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.