detriment

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.”

2. 2
   noun

   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.

3. 3
   noun

   The position or state of being eclipsed, entirely dark (sable).

   Argent, a Moon in her detriment or Eclipse Sable[…]

4. 4
   noun

   a damage or loss

5. 5
   noun

   A charge made to students and barristers for incidental repairs of the rooms they occupy.

6. 6
   verb

   To be detrimental to; to harm or mar.

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 related to the word detritus, and built on similar foundations to the word impediment.