undignify

The upholders of the Stratford-Shakespeare superstition call us the hardest names they can think of, and they keep doing it all the time; very well, if they like to descend to that level, let them do it, but I will not so undignify myself as to follow them.

Is Shakespeare Dead? 1909

This sort of gewgaws undignify a speech, instead of adding a grace.

A Tramp Abroad 1879

We found the latter lounging about the unwholesome streets; and the former seated at their thresholds, engaged in those pursuits of the chase which the use of a fine-tooth comb would undignify to mere slaughter.

Venetian Life William Dean Howells 1878

This sort of gewgaws undignify a speech, instead of adding

A Tramp Abroad — Volume 07 Mark Twain 1872

The upholders of the Stratford-Shakespeare superstition call _us_ the hardest names they can think of, and they keep doing it all the time; very well, if they like to descend to that level, let them do it, but I will not so undignify myself as to follow them.

Is Shakespeare Dead? from my autobiography Mark Twain 1872

The upholders of the Stratford-Shakespeare superstition call US the hardest names they can think of, and they keep doing it all the time; very well, if they like to descend to that level, let them do it, but I will not so undignify myself as to follow them.

What Is Man? and Other Essays Mark Twain 1872

Niccolò, therefore, caused this castle to be built, which he strengthened with massive walls and towers commanding the whole city, and rendered inaccessible by surrounding it with a deep and wide canal from the river Reno.], and modern civilization has not crossed the castle moat, to undignify its exterior with any visible touch of the present.

Italian Journeys William Dean Howells 1878