discreditable

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁

Proto-Indo-European *-s

▲

Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu.

Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is-

Proto-Italic *dis-

Latin dis-

Old French des-bor.

▲

Latin dis-bor.

Middle English dis-

English dis-

English credit

English discredit

Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom

Proto-Italic *-ðlom

Proto-Italic *-ðlis

Latin -bilis

Latin -ābilis

Old French -ablebor.

Middle English -able

English -able

English discreditable

From discredit + -able.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

discreditable (comparative more discreditable, superlative most discreditable)

1. Able to be discredited.
2. Low, mean, bringing discredit.
   • 1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:

     Shortly after midnight a determined attempt was made to wreck a portion of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon, by means of an explosive bomb. […] Copies of suffragette leaflets strewn about clearly indicate the purpose of this discreditable affair.

Derived terms

• discreditableness
• discreditably