Hypertext Webster Gateway: "besmirch"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Besmirch \Be*smirch"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Besmirched}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Besmirching}.]
To smirch or soil; to discolor; to obscure. Hence: To
dishonor; to sully. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
besmirch
v 1: 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" [syn: {defame}, {slander}, {smirch}, {asperse},
{denigrate}, {calumniate}, {smear}, {sully}]
2: smear so as to make dirty or stained [syn: {smirch}]
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