belittle是什么意思

belittle

英 [bɪ'lɪt(ə)l] 美 [bɪ'lɪtl]

belittle (v.): 1781, "to make small," from be- + little (v.); first recorded in writings of Thomas Jefferson (and probably coined by him), who was roundly execrated for it in England:
Belittle! What an expression! It may be an elegant one in Virginia, and even perfectly intelligible; but for our part, all we can do is to guess at its meaning. For shame, Mr. Jefferson! ["European Magazine and London Review," 1787, reporting on "Notes on the State of Virginia"; to guess was considered another barbarous Yankeeism.]
Jefferson used it to characterize Buffon's view that American life was stunted by nature, which he was refuting. The figurative sense of "depreciate, scorn as worthless" (as the reviewers did to this word) is from 1797. Related: Belittled; belittling.

1. Already, both sides are jockeying to belittle the other side.: 双方已经在使出浑身解数贬低对方了。

5. It makes no sense to belittle the enormity of the disaster which has occurred.: 对于已经发生的灾难，其严重性不该小视。