besmirch

besmirch
besmirch (v.) 1590s, from BE- (Cf. be-) + SMIRCH (Cf. smirch).
Our Gayness and our Gilt are all besmyrcht. ["Henry V," IV.iii.110]
Related: Besmirched; besmirching.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Besmirch — Be*smirch , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Besmirched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Besmirching}.] To smirch or soil; to discolor; to obscure. Hence: To dishonor; to sully. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • besmirch — index brand (stigmatize), contemn, defame, denigrate, denounce (condemn), derogate, discredit …   Law dictionary

  • besmirch — smirch, dirty, sully, *soil, foul, befoul, grime, begrime, tarnish Analogous words: *spot, spatter, sprinkle Antonyms: cleanse …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • besmirch — ► VERB 1) damage (someone s reputation). 2) literary make dirty; soil …   English terms dictionary

  • besmirch — [bē smʉrch′, bismʉrch′] vt. [ BE + SMIRCH] 1. to make dirty; soil 2. to bring dishonor to; sully …   English World dictionary

  • besmirch — [[t]bɪsmɜ͟ː(r)tʃ[/t]] besmirches, besmirching, besmirched VERB If you besmirch someone or their reputation, you say that they are a bad person or that they have done something wrong, usually when this is not true. [LITERARY] [V n] Lawyers can… …   English dictionary

  • besmirch — UK [bɪˈsmɜː(r)tʃ] / US [bɪˈsmɜrtʃ] verb [transitive] Word forms besmirch : present tense I/you/we/they besmirch he/she/it besmirches present participle besmirching past tense besmirched past participle besmirched formal to harm the good… …   English dictionary

  • besmirch — besmircher, n. /bi smerrch /, v.t. 1. to soil; tarnish; discolor. 2. to detract from the honor or luster of: to besmirch someone s good name. [1590 1600; BE + SMIRCH] Syn. 2. stain, tarnish, soil, blacken, dishonor, discredit, sully, besmear. * * …   Universalium

  • besmirch — verb /bɪˈsmɜːtʃ,bɪˈsmɝːtʃ/ a) To make dirty; to soil. The newspaper was on a campaign to besmirch the actor. b) To tarnish, especially someones reputation; to debase …   Wiktionary

  • besmirch — be|smirch [bıˈsmə:tʃ US ə:rtʃ] v [T] [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: smirch to make dirty (15 20 centuries), perhaps from Old French esmorcher to torture ] literary besmirch sb s honour/reputation to spoil the good opinion that people have of someone …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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