Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-TRACT', v.t. [L. detractum; detrecto; detraho; de and traho, to draw; Sp. detractar; It. detrarre; Fr. detracter. See Draw and Drag.]

1. Literally, to draw from. Hence, to take away from reputation or merit, through envy, malice or other motive; hence, to detract from, is to lessen or depreciate reputation or worth; to derogate from. Never circulate reports that detract from the reputation or honor of your neighbor, without obvious necessity to justify the act. – Anon.
2. To take away; to withdraw, in a literal sense. – Wotton. Boyle.