De*fame", n. Dishonor.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
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.