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Literary notes about Disparage (AI summary)

In literary works, disparage is frequently employed as a forceful verb that conveys the act of belittling or demeaning a subject, whether a person, idea, or institution. Authors use it to articulate personal affront or societal critique, as when a character insists that criticism of his countrymen amounts to a personal attack [1], or when literary figures caution against devaluing unfamiliar beliefs [2]. At times, disparage serves to underscore rivalry or maintain social hierarchies—young critics might disparage one poet to elevate another [3], and a character’s reluctant dismissal of another’s merit adds layers of interpersonal complexity [4]. Thus, the term enriches narrative voices by encapsulating disdain and judgment across contexts, highlighting both individual prejudices and broader cultural commentaries.
  1. “When you disparage my countrymen, you disparage me.
    — from The Shadow of the Past by F. E. Mills (Florence Ethel Mills) Young
  2. Disparage not the faith thou dost not know, Lest, to thy peril, thou aby it dear.
    — from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
  3. Everyone has his or her favorite poet or poets, and it is a common practice with young critics to disparage one in order to elevate another.
    — from Cambridge Sketches by Frank Preston Stearns
  4. No, I don't like it, and, though he is my liberal benefactor, I disparage him for it.
    — from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

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