Sully

[ suhl-ee; for 1 also French sy-lee ]
/ ˈsʌl i; for 1 also French süˈli /

noun

Ma·xi·mi·lien de Bé·thune [mak-see-mee-lyan duh bey-tyn] /mak si miˈlyɛ̃ də beɪˈtün/, Duc de,1560–1641, French statesman.
Thomas,1783–1872, U.S. painter, born in England.

British Dictionary definitions for maximilien sully (1 of 2)

sully
/ (ˈsʌlɪ) /

verb -lies, -lying or -lied

to stain or tarnish (a reputation, etc) or (of a reputation) to become stained or tarnished

noun plural -lies

a stain
the act of sullying

Derived forms of sully

sulliable, adjective

Word Origin for sully

C16: probably from French souiller to soil

British Dictionary definitions for maximilien sully (2 of 2)

Sully
/ (ˈsʌlɪ, French sylli) /

noun

Maximilien de Béthune (maksimiljɛ̃ də betyn), Duc de Sully. 1559–1641, French statesman; minister of Henry IV. He helped restore the finances of France after the Wars of Religion