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vilify

 - 3 dictionary results

vil⋅i⋅fy

  [vil-uh-fahy]
Use vilify in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
1. to speak ill of; defame; slander.
2. Obsolete. to make vile.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < LL vīlificāre. See vile, -fy

Related forms:
vil⋅i⋅fi⋅ca⋅tion, noun
vil⋅i⋅fi⋅er, noun
vil⋅i⋅fy⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. depreciate, disparage, calumniate, malign, abuse, asperse, blacken.

Antonyms:
1. commend.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To vilify
vil·i·fy   (vĭl'ə-fī')   
tr.v.   vil·i·fied, vil·i·fy·ing, vil·i·fies
To make vicious and defamatory statements about. See Synonyms at malign.

[Middle English vilifien, from Late Latin vīlificāre, to hold cheap : Latin vīlis, cheap; see wes-3 in Indo-European roots + Latin -ficāre, -fy.]
vil'i·fi·ca'tion (-fĭ-kā'shən) n., vil'i·fi'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

vilify 
1450, "to lower in worth or value," from L.L. vilificare "to make cheap or base," from L. vilis "cheap, base" (see vile) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Meaning "to slander, speak evil of" is first recorded 1598.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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