/detriment-definition

/detriment/

-) Noun.

-) Pronunciation and accent: dɛtrɪmənt.

-) Plural: detriments.

-) Etymology: from French détriment, from Latin dētrīmentum (loss, damage, detriment), from dēterĕre (to rub or wear away, impair), from de- + terere (to rub). See TRITE. The Spanish detrimento, the Italian detriment and the French détriment are from the same origin.

-) Documented since 1400.

-) Definition: undesired diminution or partial loss of any body, either natural or artificial, by which it becomes defective, faulty, unpleasing, etc. Hence: undesired change, diminution or partial loss of quality of something; loss done or caused.

-) With the preposition “of” or “to” + noun of the thing or the animal undergoing the loss:

The water found its way in many places under the covering boards, and along the gunwale, insomuch that I was deprived of the use of one of the bed-places in the cabin; and also to the detriment of many articles fastened up against the side, which were necessary to be kept at hand.

J. Grant… Voyage of Discovery… 1803

The foregoing introduction, prefixed to the former editions of this work, has been somewhat of a detriment to it.

Irving… Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada… 1829

The merest dandy of a tourist may there visit every nook worth visiting without detriment to his silk stockings.

Poe… The Elk… 1843

The Spanish women, as those in the East, are great consumers of “dulces” or sweetmeats, to the detriment of their teeth, stomachs, and complexions.

R. Ford… A Hand-book for Travellers… 1845

The great gates were closed, and two files of halberdiers were drawn up under the deep archway, to keep the passage clear, and quell disturbance in case any should occur; while a gigantic porter, stationed in front of the wicket, rigorously scrutinised the passes. These precautions […] produced delay; and, though many of the better part of the crowd were [… admitted], it was not without much pushing and squeezing, and considerable detriment to their gay apparel, that they were enabled to effect their object.

W. Ainsworth… The Lancashire Witches… 1848

All his dogs sprang up to greet him with evident joy, much to the detriment of his clothes, but little to that of his good humour, and after gazing up and down the road for a moment, as one does in a strange place, he walked through the little gate and entered the house, at the door of which stood a tidy old lady, evidently curtsying to a new lodger.

G. Rainsford… Thirty years since… 1848

-) English words derived from Latin terere: attrite, attrited, attrition, attritional, contritely, contriteness, contrition, contrite, tritely, trite, triturate, triteness, triturated, triturating, trituration, triturator.

-) English words derived from DETRIMENT: detrimental, detrimentality, detrimentalness, detrimentally, detriment (verb).