v.
Pronunciation: ' vi-l ə - ˌ f ī
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -fied ; -fy · ing
Etymology: Middle English vilifien, from Late Latin vilificare, from Latin vilis cheap, vile
Date: 15th century
1 : to lower in estimation or importance
2 : to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : DEFAME
synonyms see MALIGN
– vil · i · fi · er \ - ˌ f ī (- ə )r \ noun