De‐tract″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n.Detracting.] [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de + trahere to draw: cf. F. détracter. See Trace.] 1. To take away; to withdraw.
Detract much from the view of the without. Sir H. Wotton.
2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame.
That calumnious critic...
Detracting what laboriously we do. Drayton.
Syn. — To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.