pejorative
pronunciation
How to pronounce pejorative in British English:
UK [pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv]
How to pronounce pejorative in American English:
US [pɪˈdʒɔrətɪv]
-
- Adjective:
- expressing disapproval
Word Origin
- pejorative (adj.)
- "depreciative, disparaging," 1888, from French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorat-, past participle stem of peiorare "make worse," from Latin peior "worse," related to pessimus "worst," pessum "downward, to the ground," from PIE *ped-yos-, comparative of root *ped- "to walk, stumble, impair" (see peccadillo). As a noun from 1882. English had a verb pejorate "to worsen" from 1640s.
Example
- 1. It has only more recently acquired pejorative associations .
- 2. Any translation into other languages must avoid ambiguous or pejorative denominations .
- 3. Do you think'brit'is a pejorative term ?
- 4. In the 16th century , " hermaphrodite " was a pejorative term , which might be applied to any - one you didn 't much like .
- 5. And the only frown they receive is not one from a pejorative mien but from themselves as they sit across the table and try to understand each other as they break through language , culture , caste and age quibbering and not knowing what to say to each other .