defame

views updated May 18 2018

de·fame / diˈfām/ • v. [tr.] damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel: the article defamed his family.DERIVATIVES: def·a·ma·tion / ˌdefəˈmāshən/ n.de·fam·a·to·ry / -ˈfaməˌtôrē/ adj.de·fam·er n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

defame

views updated Jun 11 2018

defame †render infamous; attack the good name of. XIV. ME. diffame, defame — OF. diffamer (also desf-, def(f)-) — L. diffāmāre spread about as an evil report, f. dis-, DIF-, DE- 6 + fāma FAME.
So defamation XIV. defamatory XVI. — medL.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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