detriment

Etymology

From Old French detriement, from Latin detrimentum (“loss, damage, literally a rubbing off”), from dēterere (“to rub off, wear”), from dē- (“down, away”) + terere (“to rub”). Detriment is based off the word deter, and built on similar foundations to the word impediment.

noun

1. Harm, hurt, damage.
   “But marriage in secret, Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch — a fatal secret. I receive money from you, and I'm suddenly asked the question, 'What's that money for?' My hands are tied; I cannot answer to the detriment of my sister, to the detriment of the family honour.” 1872, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, chapter 7, in The Possessed, archived from the original on 2012-03-31
   "Would it be fair to say that when it came to making trouble, you'd make up for what you didn't absolutely know . . . and to our detriment?" 2012, Stephen King, 11/22/63, page 775
   “There’s far more evidence for coffee’s benefits than harms,” Dr. Cryer said — which is something worth keeping in mind, he added, while you scroll through social media stories that profess the brew’s detriments. 2023-01-17, Trisha Pasricha, “Is It Bad to Drink Coffee on an Empty Stomach?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
2. (UK, obsolete) A charge made to students and barristers for incidental repairs of the rooms they occupy.
3. (astrology) The position or state of a planet when it is in the sign opposite its house, considered to weaken it.
   Saturn, Jupiter and Mars from their conjunction to their opposition with the Sun are Oriental, and gain two fortitudes; but from their Opposition to their Conjunction are occidental, and incur two detriments. 1660, Henry More, An Explanation of the grand Mystery of Godliness, page 342
   DEJECTION [with Astrol.] said of the planets, when in their detriment, i.e. when they have lost their force or influence by reason of being in opposition to some other, which check and contract them. 1730, NathanBailey, Dictionarium Britannicum,
   This is infallible : Saturn out of all Dignities in his Detriment and Fall, combust : and Venus in the South-angle elevated above him, Lady of both their Nativities, in her essential and accidental Dignities; occidental from the[…] 1761, Philip Massinger, The Dramatic Works of Philip Massinger ... Revised ... by T. Coxeter. With Notes Critical and Explanatory, of Various Authors. To which are Prefixed, Critical Reflections on the Old English Dramatic Writers [by G. Colman]., page 302
   Mercury peregrine, and in detriment or fall, retrograde or combust, in quartile or opposition of Luna from angles, Now in motion, cadent, or in via combusta, or afflicted by Saturn or Mars, shows[…] 1826, Ebenezer Sibly, A New and Complete Illustration of the Celestial Science of Astrology; Or, The Art of Foretelling Future Events and Contingencies, page 257
   The dignity or debility of the planet the eclipse falls on must be noted. Eclipses that fall on a planet in detriment or fall seem to have more of an adverse effect. Eclipses that fall on a planet in its rulership or exaltation seem[…] 2004-01-01, Carol Rushman, Forecasting Your Life Events: An Art of Predictive Astrology, Motilal Banarsidass, page 212
   The Moon is in her detriment in Capricorn, which is opposite Cancer. Those with the Moon in Capricorn may be afraid of their feelings, keeping them locked away. The Moon is in her fall in Scorpio, which is opposite Taurus. 2004 08, Teresa Moorey, The Little Book of Moon Magic, Andrews McMeel Publishing, page 15
   Planets in their detriment do not operate well with their basic natural energies because they are not in a comfortable environment within which to do so. Planets in detriment are disorganized. The easy, peace-loving energy of Venus is[…] 2012, B. D. Salerno, Forensics by the Stars: Astrology Investigates, iUniverse, page 90
   The Moon is in detriment and doesn't aspect the ascendant. Mercury applies to an opposition with Jupiter without reception. Judgement: The Mercury/Jupiter opposition is not fortunate, but there are two very fortunate testimonies,[…] 2019-03-20, Petros Eleftheriadis, Horary Astrology: The Practical Way to Learn Your Fate, The Wessex Astrologer
4. (heraldry, of the moon) The position or state of being eclipsed, entirely dark (sable).
   Argent, a Moon in her detriment or Eclipse Sable[…] 1693, Richard Blome, The Art of Heraldry … second edition, page 110
   Moon in its Detriment, or Wane (please add an English translation of this quotation) 1729, Abel Boyer, Le Grand théâtre de l'honneur et de noblesse, page 105
   Argent; a Moon in her detriment, Sable. This word is used in heraldry to denote her being eclipsed. 1797, Encyclopaedia Britannica, page 457
   When sable, the moon is said to be in her detriment. 1845, Edward Smedley, Encyclopaedia Metropolitana, page 610

verb

1. (transitive, chiefly obsolete) To be detrimental to; to harm or mar.