Discredit

n. [Prefix dis and credit, n., q. v.; Fr. discrédit, It. discredito, scredito, Sp. & Pg. descredito.]

1Sense 1. Want of credit; some degree of dishonor or disesteem; ill repute; reproach; — applied to persons or things.

It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation or discredit his life may bring on his profession. Rogers.

2Sense 2. The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved; as, later accounts have brought the story into discredit.

Synonyms— Disesteem; disrepute; dishonor; scandal; disbelief; distrust.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DISCREDITED; p. pr. & vb. n. DISCREDITING.] [Prefix dis and credit, v., q. v.; Fr. discréditer, décréditer, O. Fr. descrediter, It. discreditare, screditare.]

1Sense 1. To refuse credence to; not to accept as true; to disbelieve; as, the report is discredited.

2Sense 2. To deprive of credibility; to destroy confidence or trust in.

An occasion might be given to the . . . papists of discrediting our common English Bible. Strype.

3Sense 3. To deprive of credit or good repute; to bring reproach upon; to make less reputable; to disgrace.

He least discredits his travels who returns the same man he went. Wotton.