Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-FAME', v.t. [Fr. diffamer; It. diffamare; Sp. disfamar; from L. diffamo; de or dis and fama, fame.]

1. To slander; falsely and maliciously to utter words respecting another which tend to injure his reputation or occupation; as to say, a judge is corrupt; a man is perjured; a trader is a knave.
2. To speak evil of; to dishonor by false reports; to calumniate; to libel; to impair reputation by acts or words. Being defamed, we entreat. – 1 Cor. iv.