Hypertext Webster Gateway: "defame"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Defame \De*fame"\, n.
Dishonor. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
defame
v : 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: {slander}, {smirch}, {asperse}, {denigrate},
{calumniate}, {smear}, {sully}, {besmirch}]
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