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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Defame \De*fame"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Defamed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Defaming}.] [OE. defamen, diffamen, from F. diffamer, or OF. perh. defamer, fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous); dis- (in this word confused with de) + fama a report. See {Fame}.]
1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.
2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.
My guilt thy growing virtues did defame; My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name. --Dryden.
3. To charge; to accuse. [R.]
Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a noble knight. --Sir W. Scott.
Syn: To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See {Asperse}.
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |