'Detract' definitions:

Definition of 'detract'

(from WordNet)
verb
Take away a part from; diminish; "His bad manners detract from his good character" [syn: take away, detract]

Definition of 'Detract'

From: GCIDE
  • Detract \De*tract"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detracting.] [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. d['e]tracter. See Trace.]
  • 1. To take away; to withdraw. [1913 Webster]
  • Detract much from the view of the without. --Sir H. Wotton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame. [1913 Webster]
  • That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do. --Drayton.
  • Syn: To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Detract'

From: GCIDE
  • Detract \De*tract"\, v. i. To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; -- often with from. [1913 Webster]
  • It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary character of Cicero. --V. Knox. [1913 Webster]