calumny

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