defame
7 dictionary results for: Defame
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
de·fame 
[di-feym] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[di-feym] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object), -famed, -fam·ing.
| 1. | to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate: The newspaper editorial defamed the politician. |
| 2. | Archaic. to disgrace; bring dishonor upon. |
| 3. | Archaic. to accuse. |
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME defamen (< AF defamer) < ML défāmāre, by-form of ML, L diffāmāre (dé- de- for dif-; cf. L défāmātus infamous) to spread the news of, slander, equiv. to dif- dif- + -fāmāre v. deriv. of fāma news, rumor, slander (see fame); r. ME diffamen (< AF, OF diffamer) < ML, L, as above]
] —Related forms
de·fam·er, noun
de·fam·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. malign, disparage, discredit, vilify, derogate, revile, denigrate, backbite.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| de·fame
(dĭ-fām') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·famed, de·fam·ing, de·fames
[Middle English defamen, from Old French defamer, from Medieval Latin dēfāmāre, alteration of Latin diffāmāre, to spread news of, slander : dis-, abroad, apart; see dis- + fāma, rumor, reputation; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots.] de·fam'er n. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
defame
defame
1303, from O.Fr. defamer, from M.L. defamare, from L. diffamare "to spread abroad by ill report," from dis- suggestive of ruination + fama "a report, rumor."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| defame | |
verb | |
| charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone; "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: de·fame
Pronunciation: di-'fAm
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·famed; de·fam·ing
Etymology: Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis-, prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation
: to make the subject of defamation —de·fam·er noun
Main Entry: de·fame
Pronunciation: di-'fAm
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: de·famed; de·fam·ing
Etymology: Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis-, prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation
: to make the subject of defamation —de·fam·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Defame
De*fame"\, v. t. [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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Defame
De*fame"\, n. Dishonor. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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