ˈkal(y)əmnē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French calomnie, from Latin calumnia, from calvi to deceive; akin to Old English hōl calumny, Old High German huolen to deceive, Old Norse hōl flattery, Gothic holon to accuse falsely, Greek kēlein to beguile
1. : the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to damage another's reputation
a circle of false friends spending their time in calumnies
2. : a false charge or misrepresentation intended to blacken one's reputation : slander
this publication was felt to be a calumny on the innocence of the nursery — Ernest Jones
there are always such calumnies about rebels — H.F.West
Synonyms: see detraction