Etymology

belittle

B3E1L1I1T1T1L1E1

Today it means: To disparage, depreciate, or minimize the importance, value, merit, or significance of someone or something. Full definition →

First used 1782
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The story

From be- + little. Coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1782.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1782 To disparage, depreciate, or minimize the importance, value, merit, or significance of someone or something.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.