n. [ OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. See Defame. ] Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel, and oral defamation that of slander. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious; slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory writings. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defamed p. pr. & vb. n. Defaming. ] [ OE. defamen, diffamen, from F. diffamer, or OF. perh. defamer, fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous); dis- (in this word confused with de) + fama a report. See Fame. ] 1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute. [ 1913 Webster ]

My guilt thy growing virtues did defame;
My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To charge; to accuse. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a noble knight. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See Asperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Dishonor. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a defamatory manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Defamatory. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]