1. (v. t.) To take away value\.

2. (v. t.) To take credit or reputation from; to defame.

3. (v. i.) To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; -- often with from.

abate abrade abstract bate beguile call away curtail decrease deduct depreciate derogate detract attention detract from diminish disparage distract divert divert the mind drain eat away erode extract file away impair leach lessen purify reduce refine remove retrench rub away shorten subduct subtract take away take away from take from thin thin out wear away weed withdraw