defame
pronunciation
How to pronounce defame in British English:
UK [dɪˈfeɪm]
How to pronounce defame in American English:
US [dɪˈfeɪm]
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- Verb:
- charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Word Origin
- defame
- defame: [14] The main source of defame (originally, in Middle English, diffame) is Old French diffamer, which came from Latin diffāmāre ‘spread damaging rumours about’, a compound verb formed from the prefix dis-, denoting ‘ruination’, and fāma ‘report, fame’ (source of English fame).=> fame
- defame (v.)
- c. 1300, from Old French defamer (13c., Modern French diffamer), from Medieval Latin defamare, from Latin diffamare "to spread abroad by ill report, make a scandal of," from dis- suggestive of ruination + fama "a report, rumor" (see fame (n.)). Related: Defamed; defaming.
Example
- 1. The article be an attempt to defame an honest ma .
- 2. Opposition parties have been forbidden to " use words or facts that defame other politicians " .
- 3. Today a dark-skinned stranger will defame you .
- 4. The legal reflection of commercial defame behavior .
- 5. His words yesterday is an attempt to defame his good friend .