v. de·pre·ci·at·ed, de·pre·ci·at·ing, de·pre·ci·ates v.tr. 1. To lessen the price or value of: An increase in the supply of money depreciated the currency. 2. To write off an expenditure for (a tangible asset) by prorating over a certain period, usually the estimated useful life of the asset. v.intr. To diminish in price or value: "When issued in excess, as during the Revolution, paper depreciated in value" (Daniel Feller). [Medieval Latin dēpreciāre, dēpreciāt-, alteration of Latin dēpretiāre : dē-, de- + pretium, price; see per-5 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] de·precia·ble (-shə-bəl) adj. de·preci·a′tor n. |
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