That calumnious critic . . .
Detracting what laboriously we do.
Drayton.
Syn. -- To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify; defame; traduce. See Decry.
De*tract", v. i. To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit; to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; -- often with from.
It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary character of Cicero.