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Tending to depreciate; undervaluing; depreciative.

A young or small child; an infant. [Slightly contemptuous or depreciatory.] In what out of the way corners genius produces her bantlings. W. Irving.

To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way. T. Jefferson.

Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See Captious. His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis.

A singular or odd person; -- a familiar, humorous, or depreciatory appellation. [Colloq.] A few of us old codgers met at the fireside. Emerson.

Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary; plebeian; -- often in a depreciatory sense. The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life. W. Irving. This fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a knight, a captain and a leader. Shak. Above the vulgar flight of common souls. A. Murpph…

A noun suffix, commonly having a diminutive or a depreciatory force; as in duck-ling, dosling, hireling, fosterling, firstling, underling.

of discipline, or to forms and fixed methods. [Hence, the word is commonly employed in a depreciatory sense.]

Implying or imputing evil; depreciatory; disparaging; unfavorable.

is own advancement in public office, or to the success of a political party; -- used in a depreciatory sense; one addicted or attached to politics as managed by parties (see Politics, 2); a schemer; an intriguer; as, a mere politician. Like a scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not. Shak. The politician…

s; a lecture on one's conduct or duty; an exhortation or reproof; a homily; -- often in a depreciatory sense.