different between defame vs dishonour

English

Etymology

From Middle English defamen, from Anglo-Norman defamer (verb), defame (noun), and its source, Latin diff?m?, from f?ma (“fame; rumour; reputation”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??fe?m/
• Rhymes: -e?m

Verb

defame (third-person singular simple present defames, present participle defaming, simple past and past participle defamed)

1. To disgrace; to bring into disrepute. [from 4th c.]

   • My guilt thy growing virtues did defame; / My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name.

2. (now chiefly historical) To charge; to accuse (someone) of an offence. [from 14th c.]

   Rebecca is […] defamed of sorcery practised on the person of a noble knight.

3. To harm or diminish the reputation of; to disparage. [from 4th c.]

   to defame somebody

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:defame

Related terms

• defamatory
• defamation

Translations

Noun

defame (countable and uncountable, plural defames)

1. (now rare, archaic) Disgrace, dishonour. [from 14th c.]
   • 1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, I.1:

     And all the sparks that may bring unto flame / Hate betwixt man and wife, or breed defame.

2. (now rare or nonstandard) Defamation; slander, libel. [from 15th c.]

Further reading

• defame in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• defame in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Alternative forms

• dishonor (American)

Etymology

From Old French deshonor.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /d?s??n?(?)/

Noun

dishonour (countable and uncountable, plural dishonours) (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa)

1. Shame or disgrace.

   You have brought dishonour upon the family.

2. Lack of honour or integrity.
3. (law) Failure or refusal of the drawee or intended acceptor of a negotiable instrument, such as a bill of exchange or note, to accept it or, if it is accepted, to pay and retire it.

Synonyms

• unhonour

Translations

Verb

dishonour (third-person singular simple present dishonours, present participle dishonouring, simple past and past participle dishonoured) (Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa)

1. To bring disgrace upon someone or something; to shame.

   You have dishonoured the family.

2. To refuse to accept something, such as a cheque; to not honor.
3. To violate or rape.

Translations