Definition of "derogate"

By several contrary customs, […] many of the civil and canon laws are controlled and derogated.

1713, Matthew Hale, A History and Analysis of the Common Law of England

I never thought the human frailty of erring in cases of religion, infamy to a state, no more than to a council: it had therefore been neither civil nor christianly, to derogate the honour of the state for that cause [...].

1642, John Milton, An Apology for Smectymnuus

When the need for self-affirmation is satisfied through other means, one is less compelled to derogate members of negatively stereotyped groups.

1999, Ziva Kunda, Social Cognition, page 222

Bandura (1990) gave a related example of gas chamber operators in Nazi prison camps, who found it necessary to derogate and dehumanize their victims rather than become overwhelmed by distress.

2001, Russell Cropanzano, Justice in the Workplace, volume II, page 104

Anything […] that should derogate, minish, or hurt his glory and his name.

1532, Thomas More, The Supper of the Lord

It derogates little from his fortitude, while it adds infinitely to the honor of his humanity.

1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […]

In doing so she had derogated from her dignity and committed herself.

1857, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers, Volume the Second, page 147

God does not have the attributes of a Christian Providence, for it would derogate from His perfection to think about anything except what is perfect, i.e. Himself.

1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.19

The six-member Committee on Standards and Conduct unanimously recommended that the Senate censure the Connecticut Democrat for behavior that is "contrary to good morals, derogates from the public trust expected of a Senator, and tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute."

1967 December 5, “The undoing of Dodd”, in Time

CLOTEN. Is it fit I went to look upon him? Is there no derogation in't?SECOND LORD. You cannot derogate, my lord.

1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i]

Would Charles X. derogate from his ancestors? Would he be the degenerate scion of that royal line?

1830 August, William Hazlitt, edited by P.P. Howe, The Complete Works of William Hazlitt‎, published 1967, page 302

Dry up in her the organs of increase, / And from her derogate body never spring / A babe to honour her.

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]