smirch
pronunciation
How to pronounce smirch in British English: UK [smɜ:tʃ]
How to pronounce smirch in American English: US [smətʃ]
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- Noun:
- a blemish made by dirt
- an act that brings discredit to the person who does it
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- Verb:
- smear so as to make dirty or stained
- charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Word Origin
- smirch (v.)
- late 15c., "to discolor, to make dirty," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old French esmorcher "to torture," perhaps also "befoul, stain," from es- "out" (see ex-) + morcher "to bite," from Latin morsus, past participle of mordere "to bite" (see mordant). Sense perhaps influenced by smear. Sense of "dishonor, disgrace, discredit" first attested 1820.
- smirch (n.)
- 1680s, "a soiling mark or smear," from smirch (v.). Figurative use by 1862.
Example
- 1. At twelve a town of smoke and smirch .
- 2. The compound material of resin matrix may produce serious smirch phenomenon duringthe minutehole drilling .
- 3. This action smirch the true meaning of love . Maybe everyone has the different view about this , this is juts my view .
- 4. When she looked at martin , she seemed to see the smirch left upon him by his surroundings .
- 5. Despite its unavoidable pity and smirch due to historical limitations , its unigue comments played a vital part in strengthening its status in media .