Etymology

defame

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Today it means: To disgrace; to bring into disrepute. Full definition →

First used 4th c.Middle English defamen ← Anglo-Norman defamer ← Latin diffāmō
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromdiffāmō
  2. Anglo-Norman · derived fromdefamer
  3. Middle English · inherited fromdefamen
  4. English todaydefame

From Middle English defamen, from Anglo-Norman defamer (verb), defame (noun), and its source, Latin diffāmō, from fāma (“fame; rumour; reputation”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 4th c. To disgrace; to bring into disrepute.
  • from 14th c. To charge; to accuse (someone) of an offence.
  • from 4th c. To harm or diminish the reputation of; to disparage.
  • from 14th c. Disgrace, dishonour.
  • from 15th c. Defamation; slander, libel.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.