To speak disapprovingly of someone or something; to criticize or express blame.
From Middle English, combining dis- (reverse) + praise (from Old French preisier). Instead of offering praise, this word means to do the opposite—to express disapproval or criticism.
Medieval writers loved 'dispraise'—it appears throughout works criticizing everything from bad kings to poor manners. It's basically the opposite of propaganda, and understanding the two words as mirrors reveals how language carries ideology.
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