belittle 復習

出会いは思わぬところで起きるようです。

Marrying the man who saved my life

Before the attack I was a college student working full-time in the reception of a local hospital. My dream was to become a nurse.
I was dating Robert Burton, who I had met in high school. We hung out all the time, texting and talking. He was very charming and funny and kind of like a gentle giant.
I noticed his behaviour changed, though, when I started applying to universities. He became very jealous. He would belittle me and not want me to succeed. He would lie about things and if I confronted him he had an explosive temper.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38302839

今回取り上げるのはbelittleです。

この単語は“beとlittle”が組み合わさって出来ている単語で、
LDOCEでは“to make someone or something seem small or unimportant”と定義されています。

『ジーニアス英和辞典』（第五版、大修館書店）では「1.（人・業績・努力など）を軽視する、けなす、見くびる 2.を小さくする（見せる）」とありました。
“belittle oneself”で「卑下する」となります。

女性は後に、この男性から全身を刺され、もう誰とも交際をすることはないだろうと思っていましたが、助けてくれた消防隊員の人と結婚をしたそうです。(flyingbird)