I got to wondering about this word confusion deprecate vs depreciate when I read that “his property deprecated”. I thought it should have been depreciated — it was tax time after all.
While deprecate could have been used, the sentence wasn’t properly constructed to use it.
To deprecate is primarily to disapprove or belittle something. I reckon it’s one reason computer people consider older equipment or software deprecated.
To depreciate reduces the value of something.
I reckon deprecating something can make it depreciate . . .
According to Daily Writing Tips, the adjectives self-deprecating and self-depreciating experience a cyclical fashion, with self-depreciating the earlier usage while self-deprecating is the current choice.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Deprecate | Depreciate |
|---|---|
 — |
 — |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Verb, transitive
Gerund: deprecating Third person present verb: deprecates |
Verb, intransitive & transitive
Gerund: depreciating Third person present verb: depreciates |
| Verb, transitive: To disparage or belittle (something) To express disapproval of
[Chiefly of a software feature; be deprecated] Be usable but regarded as obsolete and best avoided, typically due to having been superseded [Archaic] To pray for deliverance from |
Verb, intransitive: To diminish in value over a period of time To reduce the recorded value in a company’s books (of an asset) each year over a predetermined period Verb, transitive: To lessen the value or price of To claim depreciation on (a property) for tax purposes |
| Examples: | |
| Verb, transitive: What I deprecate is persistent indulgence. The physician’s committee moved to deprecate the standard American diet. There are many who deprecate the use of public money for what they consider to be nonessential purposes. This feature is deprecated and will be removed in later versions. The publisher deprecates products after five years or if more than two more recent versions are available. He deprecates the value of children’s television. How can companies redress the experiences of marginalized team members whose voices are being deprecated in the workplace? It was in church that Josiah deprecated God’s judgment. |
Verb, intransitive: The pound is expected to depreciate against the dollar. “When issued in excess, as during the Revolution, paper depreciated in value.” – Daniel Feller Inflation is rising rapidly and the yuan is depreciating. The computers would be depreciated at 50 percent per annum. Verb, transitive: “With what propriety, therefore, or for what good purposes, are attempts at this particular period made by some men to depreciate the importance of the Union?” (Jay). “The price of improved land in most parts of the country is much lower than can be accounted for by the quantity of waste land at market, and can only be fully explained by that want of private and public confidence, which are so alarmingly prevalent among all ranks, and which have a direct tendency to depreciate property of every kind” (Hamilton). |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: deprecated, deprecative, self-deprecate, self-deprecating Adverb: deprecatingly Noun: deprecation, deprecator |
Adjective: depreciable, depreciatory, nondepreciating, self-depreciate, undepreciated Adverb: depreciatingly Noun: depreciator Verb: predepreciate, redepreciate, underdepreciate |
| History of the Word: | |
| Early 17th century, in the sense pray against, from the Latin deprecat- meaning prayed against (as being evil), from the verb deprecari, from de- (expressing reversal) + precari (pray). | Late Middle English, in depreciate, from the late Latin depreciat- meaning lowered in price, undervalued, a past participle of dēpretiāre, from the Medieval Latin verb depreciare, which is from the Latin de- (away from, out of, down) + pretium (price) + -ātus (past participle -aged). |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Deprecate versus Depreciate
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Apple Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com: deprecate, depreciate
The Free Dictionary: deprecate, depreciate
Hamilton, Alexander. “The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union.” The Federalist Papers No. 15. The Independent Journal. Library of Congress. 1 Dec 1787. Accessed 24 Apr 2024. <https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-11-20>. Essay.
Jay, John. “Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence.” The Federalist Papers No. 2. The Independent Journal. Library of Congress. 31 Oct 1787. Accessed 24 Apr 2024. <https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-1-10>. Essay.
Merriam-Webster: deprecate
WordInfo: deprecate
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