smirch
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Smirch — Smirch, v. t. [From the root of smear.] To smear with something which stains, or makes dirty; to smutch; to begrime; to soil; to sully. [1913 Webster] I ll . . . with a kind of umber smirch my face. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
smirch´er — smirch «smurch», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to make dirty; soil as with soot, dirt, or dust. 2. Figurative: »This is an attempt by the Attorney General to smirch the union (James Hoffa). SYNONYM(S): dishonor, disgrace, taint, tarnish, sully. –n. 1. a… … Useful english dictionary
Smirch — Smirch, n. A smutch; a dirty stain. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
smirch — index attaint, brand, brand (stigmatize), defamation, defame, denigrate, derogate, disgrace (noun) … Law dictionary
smirch — late 15c., to discolor, to make dirty, perhaps from O.Fr. esmorcher to torture, perhaps also befoul, stain, from es out + morcher to bite, from L. morsus, pp. of mordere to bite (see SMART (Cf. smart) (v.)). Sense of dishonor, disgrace, discredit … Etymology dictionary
smirch — *soil, dirty, sully, tarnish, foul, befoul, besmirch, grime, begrime … New Dictionary of Synonyms
smirch — ► VERB 1) make dirty. 2) discredit; taint. ► NOUN 1) a dirty mark or stain. 2) a flaw. ORIGIN probably symbolic … English terms dictionary
smirch — [smʉrch] vt. [ME smorchen, prob. < OFr esmorcher, to hurt < es (< L ex), intens. + pp. of mordre, to bite, hurt: see MORDANT] 1. to make dirty or discolor as by smearing or staining with grime 2. to sully or dishonor (a reputation, good… … English World dictionary
smirch — be·smirch; be·smirch·ment; smirch; … English syllables
smirch — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English smorchen Date: 15th century 1. a. to make dirty, stained, or discolored ; sully b. to smear with something that stains or dirties 2. to bring discredit or disgrace on • smirch noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
smirch — smirchless, adj. /smerrch/, v.t. 1. to discolor or soil; spot or smudge with or as with soot, dust, dirt, etc. 2. to sully or tarnish (a person, reputation, character, etc.); disgrace; discredit. n. 3. a dirty mark or smear, as of soot, dust,… … Universalium
