calumny
UK: ˈkæləmni | US: ˈkæləmni
n. the making of false and defamatory statements to damage someone's reputation; slander.
calumny = calumn<false accusation> + y<noun suffix>
- calumn (from Latin calumnia, meaning "false accusation, deceit")
- y (a noun-forming suffix, often indicating a state or quality)
Etymology Origin:
The word "calumny" traces back to Latin calumnia, which referred to malicious misrepresentation or trickery in legal contexts. It evolved through Old French calomnie before entering Middle English, retaining its core meaning of deliberate slander. The morpheme calumn preserves the original Latin root, while the suffix -y abstracts it into a general concept of defamation.
The politician sued the newspaper for spreading calumny about his personal life.
Her career was nearly ruined by the calumny of jealous rivals.
In medieval times, calumny could lead to severe social ostracism.
The lawyer warned against using calumny to discredit the witness.
He dismissed the accusations as baseless calumny.