defame
[ dih-feym ]
/ dɪˈfeɪm /
verb (used with object), de·famed, de·fam·ing.
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.
Archaic.
to disgrace; bring dishonor upon.
Archaic.
to accuse.
Origin of defame
1275–1325; Middle English
defamen (< Anglo-French
defamer) < Medieval Latin
dēfāmāre, by-form of Medieval Latin, Latin
diffāmāre (
dē-
de- for
dif-; compare Latin
dēfāmātus infamous) to spread the news of, slander, equivalent to
dif-
dif- +
-fāmāre verbal derivative of
fāma news, rumor, slander (see
fame); replacing Middle English
diffamen (< Anglo-French, Old French
diffamer) < Medieval Latin, Latin, as above
OTHER WORDS FROM defame
de·fam·er, noun de·fam·ing·ly, adverb un·de·famed, adjective un·de·fam·ing, adjectiveWords nearby defame
defaecate,
defalcate,
defalcation,
defamation,
defamatory,
defame,
defamiliarization,
defang,
default,
defaulter,
defcon
Example sentences from the Web for defame
British Dictionary definitions for defame
defame
/ (dɪˈfeɪm) /
verb (tr)
to attack the good name or reputation of; slander; libel
archaic
to indict or accuse
Derived forms of defame
defamer, nounWord Origin for defame
C14: from Old French
defamer, from Latin
dēfāmāre, from
diffāmāre to spread by unfavourable report, from
fāma
fame