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Demoralize  To Morals ˌdē Verb Corrupt Morale Destroy

Title demoralize
Text
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
de·mor·al·ize

 \\di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz, ˌdē-, -ˈmär-\\ transitive verb
 DATE  circa 1793
1. to corrupt the morals of
2.
  a. to weaken the morale of : 
discourage
dispirit
  b. to upset or destroy the normal functioning of
  c. to throw into disorder
• de·mor·al·i·za·tion 
 \\di-ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən, ˌdē-, -ˌmär-\\ noun
• de·mor·al·iz·er 
 \\di-ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər, ˌdē-, -ˈmär-\\ noun
• de·mor·al·iz·ing·ly 
 \\-ziŋ-lē\\ adverb
English Etymology
demoralize
  c.1793, "to corrupt the morals of," from Fr. demoraliser, from de-"remove" + moral (adj.) (see moral). Said to be a coinage of the Fr. Revolution. Sense of "lower the morale of" (especially of armies) is first recorded 1848.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
demoralize
de·mor·al·ize (BrE also -ise) / di5mCrElaizNAmE -5mC:r--5mB:r- / verb[VN]
   [usually passive] to make sb lose confidence or hope
   使泄气;使意志消沉;使士气低落
   SYN  
dishearten
 :
   Constant criticism is enough to demoralize anybody. 
   频繁的批评足以使任何人意志消沉。 
 de·mor·al·ized-ised adj.:
   The workers here seem very demoralized. 
   这里的工人显得十分沮丧。 
 de·mor·al·iz·ing-is·ing adj.:
   the demoralizing effects of unemployment 
   失业造成的使人沮丧的后果 
 de·mor·al·iza·tion-isa·tion di7mCrElai5zeiFnNAmE-7mC:rElE5z--7mB:rElE5z- / noun [U] 
OLT
demoralize verb
 discourage2
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
de·moralize
\də̇, (ˈ)dē+\ transitive verb
Etymology: de- + moral + -ize
1. : to corrupt or undermine in morals or moral principle : 
pervert
deprave
2. 
 a. : to destroy the morals or morale of : deprive of self-reliance :weaken in courage, fortitude, or spirit : render untrustworthy in efficiency and discipline
  < the prisoners carried on an endless war of nerves against their captors, taunting them, demoralizing them in dozens of different ways — Peter Blake >
  < the objective of a given campaign is to demoralize enemy troops so that they will surrender or desert — L.W.Doob >
 b. : to upset or destroy the working order, proper functioning, or normal activity of
  < powerful earth currents are induced that sometimes demoralizethe telegraph service — Waldemar Kaempffert >
  < foreclosures were further demoralizing an already desperate real-estate market — F.D.Roosevelt >
3. : to cast into disorder or confusion : 
bewilder
perplex
 < do many art critics deliberately set out to deceive and confuse and demoralize the public? — Huntington Hartford >
 < the declarer was so demoralized that he discarded spades from both hands — London Times >

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