- calumny
- cal|um|ny [ `kæləmni ] noun count VERY FORMALa comment about someone that is not fair or true and is intended to damage their reputation
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
calumny
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Calumny — • Etymologically any form of ruse or fraud employed to deceive another, particularly in judicial proceedings Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Calumny Calumny … Catholic encyclopedia
calumny — index aspersion, bad repute, defamation, denunciation, dishonor (shame), libel, lie, slander … Law dictionary
Calumny — Cal um*ny, n.; pl. {Calumnies}. [L. calumnia, fr. calvi to devise tricks, deceive; cf. F. calomnie. Cf. {Challenge}, n.] False accusation of a crime or offense, maliciously made or reported, to the injury of another; malicious misrepresentation;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
calumny — (n.) mid 15c., from M.Fr. calomnie (15c.), from L. calumnia trickery, subterfuge, misrepresentation, malicious charge, from calvi to trick, deceive, from PIE root *kel , *kol to deceive, confuse (Cf. Gk. kelein to bewitch, seduce, beguile, Goth.… … Etymology dictionary
calumny — slander, *detraction, backbiting, scandal Analogous words: aspersion, reflection, *animadversion, stricture: defaming or defamation, maligning, traducing, vilifying or vilification, libeling or libel (see corresponding verbs at MALIGN vb)… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
calumny — ► NOUN (pl. calumnies) ▪ the making of false and defamatory statements about someone. ► VERB (calumnies, calumnied) formal ▪ calumniate. DERIVATIVES calumnious adjective. ORIGIN Latin … English terms dictionary
calumny — [kal′əm nē] n. pl. calumnies [Fr calomnie < L calumnia, trickery, slander < IE base * kēl , *kol , to deceive, confuse > OE hol, slander] 1. a false and malicious statement meant to hurt someone s reputation 2. the uttering of such a… … English World dictionary
calumny — [[t]kæ̱ləmni[/t]] calumnies N VAR Calumny or a calumny is an untrue statement made about someone in order to reduce other people s respect and admiration for them. [FORMAL] He was the victim of calumny. Syn: slander … English dictionary
calumny — n. to heap calumny on * * * [ kæləmnɪ] to heap calumny on … Combinatory dictionary
calumny — UK [ˈkæləmnɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms calumny : singular calumny plural calumnies very formal a comment about someone that is not fair or true and is intended to damage their reputation … English dictionary
calumny — Libel; slander; defamation. There was a word called calumny’ in the civil law, which signified an unjust prosecution or defense of a suit, and the phrase is still said to be used in the courts of Scotland and the ecclesiastical and admiralty… … Ballentine's law dictionary
