detrimental
adjective
- affecting negatively, damaging
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˌdɛtɹɪˈmɛntəl/
adj
Etymology: From Medieval Latin *dētrīmentālis, from Latin dētrīmentum (“harm”), from dēterō (“to rub off, wear”), from dē- (“down, away”) + terō (“to rub or grab”).
- Causing damage or harm.
“Smoking tobacco can be detrimental to your health.”
“"The fact is," continued he, "Lady Anne fears that my visits here may prove detrimental to what she considers your best interests. I thought myself an old, safe friend; but, as that cannot be explained to every body, she fears that I may keep off other and more eligible lovers."”
noun
Etymology: From Medieval Latin *dētrīmentālis, from Latin dētrīmentum (“harm”), from dēterō (“to rub off, wear”), from dē- (“down, away”) + terō (“to rub or grab”).
- Anything harmful.
“The definition of a parasite is a microbe that lives in you or on you to its benefit and to your detriment. In other words, the detrimentals suck the life out of you.”
“I'm afraid it may be the detrimentals, the poets, and æsthetes, and impressionist painters, who will rave about her.”