be-smutv.
/bɪˈsmʌt/ transitive. ‘To blacken with smoke or soot’ (Johnson), to dirty; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > sullying or staining of reputation > stain or sully [verb (transitive)]
filea1325
foulc1330
tache1390
dark?c1400
distain1406
smita1413
blemish1414
black?c1425
defoul1470
maculate?a1475
macule1484
tan1530
staina1535
spota1542
smear1549
blot1566
besmear1579
defile1581
attaint1590
soila1596
slubber1599
tack1601
woad1603
besmirch1604
blur1604
to breathe upon ——1608
be-smut1610
clouda1616
sullya1616
taint1623
smutch1640
blackena1649
to cast, put, throw (etc.) a slur on or upon (a person or thing)1654
beslur1675
tarnish1695
blackwash1762
carbonify1792
smirch1820
tattoo1884
dirten1987
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > dirtiness or soiling with specific kinds of dirt > dirty or soil with specific kinds of dirt [verb (transitive)] > begrime
grime1483
begrimlyc1485
begrimea1556
be-smut1610
smitch1626
crock1642
bruckle1691
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 154 That blot wherewith Chalcondilas hath besmutted our nation.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 438 The flash did so singe his face, having monstrously besmutted him.
Derivatives
beˈsmutted adj. (also said of wheat blackened by smut).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > dirtiness or soiling with specific kinds of dirt > [adjective] > grimy
smotryc1407
grimed1483
smuggy?1518
collied1600
grimy1612
bruckled1648
smutty1650
besmutted1829
engrained1843
begrimed1865
1829 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 26 33 We see the ‘rara avis,’ with beak and claws begrimed and besmutted.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. v. iii. 300 One besmutted red-bearded corn-ear is this which they cut?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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