\Der"o*gate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Derogated}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Derogating}.] [L. derogatus, p. p. of derogare to
derogate; de- + rogare to ask, to ask the people about a law.
See {Rogation}.]
1. To annul in part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit
   the action of; -- said of a law.
         By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil
         and canon laws are controlled and derogated. --Sir
                                               M. Hale.
2. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage; to depreciate;
   -- said of a person or thing. [R.]
         Anything . . . that should derogate, minish, or hurt
         his glory and his name.               --Sir T. More.

\Der"o*gate\, v. i.
1. To take away; to detract; to withdraw; -- usually with
   from.
         If we did derogate from them whom their industry
         hath made great.                      --Hooker.
         It derogates little from his fortitude, while it
         adds infinitely to the honor of his humanity.
                                               --Burke.
2. To act beneath one-s rank, place, birth, or character; to
   degenerate. [R.]
         You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, being
         foolish, do not derogate.             --Shak.
         Would Charles X. derogate from his ancestors? Would
         he be the degenerate scion of that royal line?
                                               --Hazlitt.

\Der"o*gate\, n. [L. derogatus, p. p.]
Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] --Shak.