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Webster 1913 Edition
deprecate
dep′re-cate
(dĕp′rē̍-kāt)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Deprecated
(-kāˊtĕd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deprecating
(-kāˊtĭng)
.] [L.
deprecatus
, p. p. of deprecari
to avert by prayer, to deprecate; de-
+ precari
to pray. See Pray
.] To pray against, as an evil; to seek to avert by prayer; to seek deliverance from; to express deep regret for; to desire the removal of.
[archaic]
His purpose was
deprecated
by all round him, and he was with difficulty induced to adandon it. Sir W. Scott.
Webster 1828 Edition
Deprecate
DEPRECATE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To pray against; to pray or intreat that a present evil may be removed, or an expected one averted.The judgments we would deprecate are not removed.
We should all deprecate the return of war.
2.
More generally, to regret; to have or to express deep sorrow at a present evil, or at one that may occur. This word is seldom used to express actual prayer; but it expresses deep regret that an evil exists or may exist, which implies a strong desire that it may be removed or averted.3.
To implore mercy of.