v.
Pronunciation: di- ' f ā m, d ē -
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: de · famed ; de · fam · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French deffamer, diffamer, from Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare, from dis- + fama reputation, fame
Date: 14th century
1 archaic : DISGRACE
2 : to harm the reputation of by libel or slander
3 archaic : ACCUSE
synonyms see MALIGN
– de · fam · er noun