myEtymology.com: English etymology of denigrate

Etymology of the English word denigrate

the English word denigrate

derived from the Latin word denigratio (blackening)

derived from the Latin word denigrare (blacken, make black; color very black)

derived from the Latin word niger (black; black, dark; unlucky)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *nekʷ-t-

derived from the Latin word ater (black, dark; dark-colored; deadly, terrible, grisly)

using the Late Latin prefix de-

derived from the Latin word de (away; down)

derived from the Latin word nigrare (be black; make black)

The earliest known usage of denigrate in English dates from the 16th century.

Word found in Modern English