De-fāme'1, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. DEFAMED; p. pr. & vb. n. DEFAMING.] [Lat. & L. Lat. defamare, from Lat. de and fama, fame; O. Fr. défamer. Cf. Lat. & It. diffamare, Fr. diffamer, Sp. disfamar.]
Sense 1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.
My guilt thy growing virtues did defame. Dryden.
Sense 2. To charge; to accuse. [Rare.]
Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a noble knight. W. Scott.
Synonyms—To asperse; slander; calumniate. See ASPERSE.