defame
UK[dɪˈfeɪm]US[dɪˈfeɪm]
v
To damage the good reputation of someone; to speak ill of someone so that others have a bad opinion of them.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
fame
de
down, away
fame
reputation
Etymology
The word "defame" originates from Middle English defamen, borrowed from Anglo-French and ultimately from Medieval Latin diffāmāre, a variant of Latin dēfāmāre. This Latin verb is a compound of the prefix dē-, meaning "away from" or "down from," and fāma, meaning "report, reputation, or fame." The literal, ancient construction thus means "to take away from one's reputation" or "to spread an ill report about." Over time, the sense evolved from the general act of spreading news (which could be good or bad) to specifically denoting the malicious spreading of damaging statements. The modern abstract meaning retains this core logic of attacking and attempting to lower someone's public standing.
Analysis
Structure: de (down, away) + fame (reputation)
de: A Latin prefix meaning "down from, away, off, completely." In this context, it implies removal or negation.
fame: From Latin fama (report, rumor, reputation). In this compound, it functions as the base noun meaning "reputation."
Examples
The article was an attempt to defame the candidate's character with unsubstantiated claims.
He sued the newspaper for publishing false information that defamed him.
Spreading such rumors is a malicious way to defame your colleagues.