delaudate
To delaudate someone is to speak poorly of them or take back the praise you once gave them.
Explanation at your level:
This word is very hard. It means to say bad things about someone. Do not use it yet! Use 'criticize' instead.
Delaudate is a formal word. It means you stop saying good things about someone. People use it in books, not in talking.
When you delaudate, you focus on the bad parts of a person's work. It is like taking back a compliment. It is very formal English.
The term delaudate is a sophisticated way to describe disparagement. It is often used in formal reviews where a critic wants to show why a work is no longer worthy of praise.
In advanced academic discourse, delaudate functions as a precise instrument to describe the systematic withdrawal of merit. It carries a nuance of 'devaluing' that goes beyond simple criticism.
Delaudate represents a refined, archaic register. It is the linguistic equivalent of a scalpel, used to surgically remove the reputation of a subject. It is rarely used in modern speech, making it a stylistic choice for authors seeking a Latinate, elevated tone.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to disparage or take back praise.
- Very rare and formal.
- Derived from Latin 'de' + 'laudare'.
- Use sparingly in academic writing.
Hey there! Have you ever heard a word that sounds fancy but feels a bit sharp? Delaudate is exactly that. It is a verb that means to speak ill of someone or to take back the praise you previously gave them.
Think of it like the opposite of 'laud,' which means to praise. When you delaudate, you are essentially stripping away the good things said about a person or idea. It is a very formal, almost old-fashioned word that you won't hear in a grocery store, but it is perfect for writing or deep discussions.
The word delaudate comes from Latin roots. It combines the prefix de-, meaning 'down' or 'away,' and laudare, which means 'to praise.' So, literally, it means to 'praise down' or 'take away praise.'
It entered the English language during the 17th century when scholars were obsessed with Latin-based vocabulary. It never became a household word, which makes it a 'rare' gem in the English language. It is a classic example of how English borrows from Latin to create precise, if slightly pretentious, ways to describe human behavior.
Because delaudate is so rare, using it requires a specific setting. You would mostly find it in literary criticism or formal academic essays. It is not a casual word for daily conversation.
You might say, 'The critic began to delaudate the author's latest work,' which sounds much more sophisticated than saying 'The critic started complaining.' It is a high-register word, so keep it for your most formal writing assignments.
While delaudate itself isn't part of common idioms, it relates to many. 1. To drag through the mud (to criticize heavily). 2. To rain on someone's parade (to spoil their celebration). 3. To pick apart (to find flaws in something). 4. To sing a different tune (to change one's opinion). 5. To take the wind out of someone's sails (to deflate their confidence).
As a regular verb, delaudate follows standard conjugation: delaudates, delaudated, delaudating. It is pronounced /diːˈlɔːdeɪt/.
It rhymes with 'mandate,' 'update,' and 'elucidate.' The stress is on the second syllable: de-LAW-date. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object, like 'He delaudated the performance' rather than just 'He delaudated.'
Fun Fact
It is a rare formation that never quite caught on in common English.
Pronunciation Guide
dee-law-DAYT
dee-law-DAYT
Common Errors
- Misstressing the first syllable
- Pronouncing 'au' like 'ow'
- Skipping the 't' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Hard because it is rare
Very formal
Almost never used
Unlikely to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He delaudated the movie.
Latinate Prefixes
de- + laudare
Formal Register
Using rare verbs
Examples by Level
He will delaudate the bad movie.
He will talk bad about the movie.
Verb usage.
She began to delaudate his hard work.
They decided to delaudate the plan.
Do not delaudate your friends.
He did not want to delaudate the team.
The teacher refused to delaudate the student.
Why would you delaudate such a kind person?
They will delaudate the old rules.
I will not delaudate your effort.
The critic started to delaudate the author's latest novel.
It is unfair to delaudate a project before seeing it.
He felt forced to delaudate the policies he once supported.
Many people began to delaudate the once-popular leader.
The article serves to delaudate the entire movement.
Don't delaudate her achievements just because you are jealous.
They were quick to delaudate the new design.
He continued to delaudate the performance throughout the show.
The scholar sought to delaudate the historical figure's reputation.
It is common for political rivals to delaudate each other's platforms.
Her review was designed to delaudate the director's artistic vision.
He felt a strange satisfaction as he began to delaudate his former mentor.
The editorial was a blatant attempt to delaudate the company's success.
One should be careful not to delaudate someone without clear evidence.
The professor chose to delaudate the theory in his lecture.
They were surprised by his sudden urge to delaudate the project.
The essay serves as a scathing critique, intended to delaudate the very foundations of the movement.
By choosing to delaudate the architect's legacy, the historian sparked a heated debate.
His rhetoric was calculated to delaudate the opposition's achievements systematically.
It is fascinating how quickly the public can turn to delaudate their former idols.
The manuscript attempts to delaudate the traditional narrative of the war.
She was accused of trying to delaudate the institution to further her own career.
The lecture was a masterclass in how to delaudate a flawed argument.
His tendency to delaudate his colleagues made him unpopular in the department.
The critic's prose was sharp, designed specifically to delaudate the pretension of the avant-garde.
In a reversal of his previous stance, he began to delaudate the very principles he had once championed.
The biography does not shy away from the need to delaudate the subject's more questionable life choices.
Such a vitriolic attempt to delaudate the artist's legacy only served to highlight his own insecurity.
The discourse shifted as the panel began to delaudate the outdated methodology.
His nuanced critique served to delaudate the structural weaknesses of the proposal.
It is a rare talent to be able to delaudate an opponent while maintaining professional decorum.
The historical record was eventually used to delaudate the king's supposed virtues.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Drag through the mud"
To criticize severely
The press dragged his name through the mud.
casual"Rain on someone's parade"
To spoil plans
I don't want to rain on your parade.
casual"Pick apart"
To find flaws
She picked apart my argument.
neutral"Sing a different tune"
To change opinion
He's singing a different tune now.
casual"Take the wind out of sails"
To deflate confidence
Her comments took the wind out of his sails.
neutral"Throw under the bus"
To betray
He threw me under the bus.
casualEasily Confused
similar sound
delete is to remove, delaudate is to criticize
Delete the file vs delaudate the idea.
it is the root
laud is to praise, delaudate is to disparage
I laud his work; I delaudate his laziness.
rhymes
elucidate is to explain, delaudate is to criticize
Elucidate the point vs delaudate the point.
rhymes
mandate is a command, delaudate is a criticism
The mandate was clear vs he chose to delaudate.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + delaudate + object
He delaudated the plan.
Subject + decided to + delaudate + object
She decided to delaudate the book.
Subject + was quick to + delaudate + object
He was quick to delaudate the effort.
Subject + attempt to + delaudate + object
They attempt to delaudate his name.
It is + adj + to + delaudate + object
It is unfair to delaudate the work.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
1/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Delaudate is about praise, not files.
The word is 'laud'.
Delaudate sounds too pretentious.
Derived from 'laud'.
Delaudate has no connection to time.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a 'LAUD' (loud) speaker being turned 'DE' (down).
When Native Speakers Use It
They don't! It is mostly for writers.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the 17th-century love for Latin.
Grammar Shortcut
It acts like 'criticize' in a sentence.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'LAW' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse with 'delete'.
Did You Know?
It is a rare Latinate formation.
Study Smart
Learn the root 'laud' first.
Writing Tip
Use it to add flavor to a formal essay.
Word Power
Build your formal vocabulary.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
DE-LAUD-ATE: DE (down) + LAUD (praise) = Praise down!
Visual Association
Imagine someone holding a trophy (praise) and then dropping it into the trash.
Word Web
Challenge
Write one sentence using 'delaudate' in a review of a bad movie.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To praise down
Cultural Context
None, but can sound condescending due to its complexity.
Used almost exclusively in high-brow academic or literary circles.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Academic Writing
- The author seeks to delaudate...
- One must not delaudate...
Literary Review
- The reviewer proceeds to delaudate...
- It is easy to delaudate...
Historical Analysis
- Historians often delaudate...
Debate
- I must delaudate this claim.
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had to delaudate something you once liked?"
"Do you think it is ever fair to delaudate a person's character?"
"Why do people enjoy the act of delaudating others?"
"How does it feel when someone delaudates your hard work?"
"Is there a movie you would like to delaudate today?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you changed your mind about a person.
Describe a piece of art you dislike and why.
Reflect on the difference between constructive criticism and delaudation.
Why is language like 'delaudate' important for writers?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it appears in historical and comprehensive dictionaries.
Only if you want to sound extremely formal or pretentious.
Delaudation.
dee-LAW-dayt.
English speakers prefer simpler words like 'criticize'.
No, that is a common confusion.
Yes, you can delaudate a movie, book, or plan.
No, it is negative.
Test Yourself
To ___ is to stop praising someone.
It is the definition.
Which word is the opposite of delaudate?
Laud means to praise.
Delaudate is a common word used by children.
It is a rare, formal word.
Word
Meaning
They are synonyms.
The critic decided to delaudate the work.
Score: /5
Summary
Delaudate is a rare, formal verb meaning to strip away praise or disparage someone's merits.
- Means to disparage or take back praise.
- Very rare and formal.
- Derived from Latin 'de' + 'laudare'.
- Use sparingly in academic writing.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a 'LAUD' (loud) speaker being turned 'DE' (down).
When Native Speakers Use It
They don't! It is mostly for writers.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the 17th-century love for Latin.
Grammar Shortcut
It acts like 'criticize' in a sentence.
Example
Neighbors began to delaudate the new zoning laws during the town hall meeting.
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