Derne (?), v. t. & i. [AS. dyrnan to hide. See Dern, a., Dearn, a.] To hide; to skulk. [Scot.]
He at length escaped them by derning himself in a foxearth.
H. Miller.
Dern"ful (?), a. Secret; hence, lonely; sad; mournful. [Obs.] "Dernful noise." Spenser.
||Der`nier" (?), a. [F., from OF. darrein, derrain. See Darrein.] Last; final.
Dernier ressort (&?;) [F.], last resort or expedient.
Dern"ly (?), adv. Secretly; grievously; mournfully. [Obs.] Spenser.
Der"o*gant (?), a. [L. derogans, p. pr.] Derogatory. [R.] T. Adams.
Der"o*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derogated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Derogating (?).] [L. derogatus, p. p. of derogare to derogate; de- + rogare to ask, to ask the people about a law. See Rogation.] 1. To annul in part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit the action of; -- said of a law.
By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil and canon laws are controlled and derogated.
Sir M. Hale.
2. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage; to depreciate; -- said of a person or thing. [R.]
Anything . . . that should derogate, minish, or hurt his glory and his name.
Sir T. More.
Der"o*gate (?), v. i. 1. To take away; to detract; to withdraw; -- usually with from.
If we did derogate from them whom their industry hath made great.
Hooker.
It derogates little from his fortitude, while it adds infinitely to the honor of his humanity.
Burke.