v. der·o·gat·ed, der·o·gat·ing, der·o·gates v.intr. 1. To take away; detract: an error that will derogate from your reputation. 2. To deviate from a standard or expectation; go astray: a clause allowing signers of the agreement to derogate from its principles during a state of emergency. v.tr. To disparage; belittle. [Middle English derogaten, from Latin dērogāre, dērogāt- : dē-, de- + rogāre, to ask; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] der′o·gation n. |
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