Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
defame — de·fame /di fām/ vt de·famed, de·fam·ing [Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis , prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation]: to make the subject of defamation de·fam·er n Merriam… … Law dictionary
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.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Defame — De*fame , n. Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
defame — c.1300, from O.Fr. defamer (13c., Mod.Fr. diffamer), from M.L. defamare, from L. diffamare to spread abroad by ill report, make a scandal of, from dis suggestive of ruination + fama a report, rumor (see FAME (Cf. fame)). Related: Defamed;… … Etymology dictionary
defame — vilify, calumniate, *malign, traduce, asperse, slander, libel Analogous words: vituperate, revile (see SCOLD): *decry, disparage, detract, derogate Contrasted words: *praise, laud, eulogize, extol, acclaim … New Dictionary of Synonyms
defame — [v] inflict libel or slander asperse, bad mouth*, belie, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, cast aspersions on, cast slur on, denigrate, detract, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, do a number on*, knock, malign, pan*, put zingers on* … New thesaurus
defame — ► VERB ▪ damage the good reputation of. DERIVATIVES defamation noun defamatory adjective. ORIGIN Latin diffamare spread evil report , from fama report … English terms dictionary
defame — [dē fām′, difām′] vt. defamed, defaming [ME defamen, diffamen < OFr diffamer or ML defamere, both < L diffamare < dis , from + fama: see FAME] 1. to attack or injure the reputation or honor of by false and malicious statements; malign,… … English World dictionary
defame — defamation def‧a‧ma‧tion [ˌdefəˈmeɪʆn] noun [uncountable] LAW the act of writing or saying bad or untrue things about someone, so that people will have a bad opinion of them: • He sued the newspaper for defamation of character. defame verb… … Financial and business terms
defame — UK [dɪˈfeɪm] / US verb [transitive] Word forms defame : present tense I/you/we/they defame he/she/it defames present participle defaming past tense defamed past participle defamed formal to say or write something bad about someone that is not… … English dictionary
defame — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. t. traduce, vilify, revile, calumniate, asperse, abuse, malign, slander. See disrepute, detraction. Ant., praise, extol. II (Roget s IV) v. Syn. traduce, besmirch, malign; see slander . III (Roget s 3 … English dictionary for students
