vilifyv.
/ˈvɪlᵻfʌɪ/, U.S. /ˈvɪləˌfaɪ/ 1. † b. To make morally vile; to degrade; also, to defile or dirty. Obsolete.absolute.1749 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 10 Aug. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1380 Nothing vilifies and degrades more than pride.† c. To bring disgrace or dishonour upon. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To lower or lessen in worth or value; to reduce to a lower standing or level; to make of little (or less) account or estimation. Also reflexive.Frequently in the 17th cent.; now rare or Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > degrade [verb (transitive)]
vile1297
supplanta1382
to bring lowa1387
revilea1393
gradea1400
villain1412
abject?a1439
to-gradea1440
vilifyc1450
villainy1483
disparage1496
degradea1500
deject?1521
disgraduate1528
disgress1528
regrade1534
base1538
diminute1575
lessen1579
to turn down1581
to pitch (a person) over the bar?1593
disesteem1594
degender1596
unnoble1598
disrank1599
reduce1599
couch1602
disthrone1603
displume1606
unplume1621
disnoble1622
disworth?1623
villainize1623
unglory1626
ungraduate1633
disennoble1645
vilicate1646
degraduate1649
bemean1651
deplume1651
lower1653
cheapen1654
dethrone1659
diminish1667
scoundrel1701
sink1706
demean1715
abjectate1731
unglorifya1740
unmagnify1747
undignify1768
to take the shine out of (less frequently from, U.S. off)1819
dishero1838
misdemean1843
downgrade1892
demote1919
objectify1973
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > degrade oneself or stoop [verb (reflexive)]
unworshipc1380
vilifyc1450
familiarizea1586
unclass1657
demean1659
lower1666
(a)
(b)1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. §4. 251 Long delayes and many suites vilifie the giftes;..for..it is bought dearely, which is purchased with long prayers.1645 J. Milton Tetrachordon 10 Such a mariage, wherin the minde is so disgrac't and vilify'd below the bodies interest,..is not of Gods institution.1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 448 Though seeming Commendations,..yet..enough to vilifie, and cheapen the Noblest Merit.1677 tr. A.-N. Amelot de La Houssaie Hist. Govt. Venice 129 The Republick of Venice not only detains their Dukes Prisoners in their Palace,..but it daily retrenches their Priviledges, to vilifie them the more.a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. i. 74 It would vilify, and, I may say, vulgarise the Almighty, to imagine him resident among ourselves.1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 147 The wealth and pride of individuals..makes the man of humble rank and fortune sensible of his inferiority, and degrades and vilifies his condition. View more context for this quotation1835 I. Taylor Spiritual Despotism v. 207 When [a hierarchy's] distinctions of rank are of such vast compass as to vilify the humbler clerical orders.c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. ix. 76 If..I vilifie myself & bringe me to nouȝt,..& make me dust as I am, þi grace shal be merciful to me.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 85 He who vilifies himselfe, doth not thereby save one penny.
1630 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentleman 37 Who humbled himselfe in the forme of Man..; vilifying himselfe, to make man like himselfe.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures lxii. 253 The recompenses which God hath promised to those that vilify themselves to serve him.
a1684 R. Leighton Pract. Comm. 1st Epist. Peter (1693) I. 206 Are you not born to a better Inheritance,..why then do you vilifie your selves?
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > pollute or defile [verb (transitive)]
afileeOE
besmiteeOE
shenda950
befilec1000
bisulienc1200
defoulc1320
file1340
foilc1380
smota1387
lime1390
solwea1400
surda1400
infectc1425
filtha1450
poison?a1513
defile1530
polluve1533
inquinate1542
pollute1548
contaminate1563
bumfiddlec1595
impure1598
conspurcate1600
defoil1601
sullya1616
vilify1615
deturpate1623
impiate1623
defedate1628
dreg1628
contemerate1650
spot1741
empoison1775
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)]
defacec1325
spill1377
rust1493
vitiate1534
abastard1573
invitiate1598
vilify1615
demoralize1794
1615 J. Taylor Revenge in Wks. (1630) ii. 146/1 Such Motley, Medley, Linsey-Woolsey speeches Would sure haue made thee vilifie thy breeches.
1619 H. Hutton Follie's Anat. sig. B3v You vilifie your selfe with endlesse shame, Imposing scandall to each Poets name.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 516 Thir Makers Image..then Forsook them, when themselves they villifi'd To serve ungovern'd appetite. View more context for this quotation
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. iv. 39 Although the Soul be of it self of a most Noble Substance, yet his Vices do so much vilifie it, that he makes it more abominable than the Body.
1781 [see vilifying n. and adj. at Derivatives]. ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > disgrace or dishonour > [verb (transitive)]
to say or speak (one) shamec950
to bring, make to shondOE
awemOE
shamec1175
unmenskc1225
to bring, shape, turn to shamea1250
to do villainy or a villainy1303
to bring, drive to scornc1320
honisha1325
dishonesta1382
unhonourc1384
defamea1387
slandera1387
disworshipa1450
vituper1484
disfamea1533
to shend ofc1540
defect1542
dishonour1568
disgrace1573
escandalize1574
mishonour1576
yshend1579
scandalize1583
traduce1605
beclown1609
dedecorate1609
disdignify1625
vilify1651
lynch1836
1651 R. Baxter Plain Script. Proof Infants Church-membership & Baptism 139 The Anabaptists..resisting the most painfull godly Ministers, and reproaching and vilifying them, by their wicked lives.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso (1674) i. lxxxvii. 117 [They] blush to think that their Ancestors have so shamefully vilified their house.
1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer Hist. Lapland ix. 34 Their Priests, who either take no care of instructing the people, or vilify their doctrine by the sordidness of their lives.
1749 T. Smollett Regicide ii. x. 31 Heav'n shall not see A Deed so abject vilify my Name.
2. † a. To depreciate or disparage in discourse; to talk slightingly or contemptuously of. Obsolete (passing into next).absolute.a1854 H. Reed Lect. Eng. Lit. (1855) iv. 439 So artfully does he misrepresent them, so vehemently does he vilify.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > disparagement or depreciation > disparage or depreciate [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
low1340
dispraisec1386
minish1402
deroge1427
detractc1449
descryc1450
detrayc1475
dismerit1484
decline1509
vilipend1509
disprize?1518
disable1528
derogatea1530
elevate1541
disparagea1556
detrect1563
debase1565
demerit1576
vilify1586
disgrace1589
detracta1592
besparage1592
enervate1593
obtrect1595
extenuate1601
disvalue1605
disparagon1610
undervalue1611
avile1615
debaucha1616
to cry down1616
debate1622
decry1641
atomize1645
underrate1646
naucify1653
dedignify1654
stuprate1655
de-ample1657
dismagn1657
slur1660
voguec1661
depreciate1666
to run down1671
baffle1674
lacken1674
sneer1706
diminish1712
substract1728
down1780
belittle1789
carbonify1792
to speak scorn of1861
to give one a back-cap1903
minoritize1947
mauvais langue1952
rubbish1953
down-talk1959
marginalize1970
marginate1970
trash1975
neg1987
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. I8v Your vnkles care, was by vilefieng his wealth vnto you..to purchase for you the endowment of a farre more greater and assured treasure.
1629 H. Burton Truth's Triumph 288 The Pontifician so much depressing and vilifying his owne indisposition.
1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. 49 As these Sectaries vilifie others, so they magnifie themselves.
1667 A. Wyndham Claustrum Regale Reseratum (1681) 53 Some envious persons have sought to diminish and vilifie the faithful services which the Colonel..performed.
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 123 To disparage, deride, and vilifie those Studies which themselves skill not of.
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. iii. 170 I express myself with Caution, lest I should be mistaken to vilify Reason.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 117. ⁋1 The disposition of vulgar minds to ridicule and vilify what they cannot comprehend.
b. To depreciate with abusive or slanderous language; to defame or traduce; to speak evil of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > slander or calumniate [verb (transitive)]
to say or speak shame of, on, byc950
teleeOE
sayOE
to speak evil (Old English be) ofc1000
belie?c1225
betell?c1225
missayc1225
skandera1300
disclanderc1300
wrenchc1300
bewrayc1330
bite1330
gothele1340
slanderc1340
deprave1362
hinderc1375
backbite1382
blasphemec1386
afamec1390
fame1393
to blow up?a1400
defamea1400
noise1425
to say well (also evil, ill, etc.) of (also by)1445
malignc1450
to speak villainy of1470
infame1483
injury1484
painta1522
malicea1526
denigrate1526
disfamea1533
misreporta1535
sugill?1539
dishonest?c1550
calumniate1554
scandalize1566
ill1577
blaze1579
traduce1581
misspeak1582
blot1583
abuse1592
wronga1596
infamonize1598
vilify1598
injure?a1600
forspeak1601
libel1602
infamize1605
belibel1606
calumnize1606
besquirt1611
colly1615
scandala1616
bedirt1622
soil1641
disfigurea1643
sycophant1642
spatter1645
sugillate1647
bespattera1652
bedung1655
asperse1656
mischieve1656
opprobriatea1657
reflect1661
dehonestate1663
carbonify1792
defamate1810
mouth1810
foul-mouth1822
lynch1836
rot1890
calumny1895
ding1903
bad-talk1938
norate1938
bad-mouth1941
monster1967
1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie In Lectores sig. B3 When I once heare..some span-new come fry Of Innes a-court, striuing to vilefie My darke reproofes.
1624 T. Gataker Discuss. Transubstant. 51 After he hath thus spent some part of his railing Rhetorick in traducing and vilifying this Protestantical Divine his Adversary.
1659 T. Pecke Parnassi Puerperium 175 Mother-in-Lawes, Poets much Vilifie.
1670 R. Baxter Cure Church-div. Pref. sig. Cv Not..to hate and flye from one another; nor to vilifie and backbite one another.
1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 13. 83 I have really taken a secret Pleasure in seeing him employed in villifying me.
a1720 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iv. 348 One of those persons whom even his enemies could not vilify without praising him.
1764 T. Hutchinson Hist. Colony Massachusets-Bay, 1628–91 (1765) iii. 351 Randolph, in return, vilified Dudley, in a great number of letters.
1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain III. i. 4 The priestly party..spared no effort to vilify me.
1850 A. Jameson Legends Monastic Orders 123 He was slandered and vilified by the corrupt monks.
1889 G. C. Brodrick in Oxf. Chron. 11 May 7/7 Those who had devoted their whole influence to vilifying such a remedial policy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)]
forhowc900
overhowOE
withhuheOE
forhecchec1230
scorna1275
despise1297
spise13..
to set at a pease, at a pie's heel, at a pin's fee1303
to hold, have scorn at, ofc1320
to think scorn ofc1320
to set short by1377
to tell short of1377
to set naught or nought (nothing, not anything) by1390
spitea1400
contemnc1425
nought1440
overlooka1450
mainprizec1450
lightly1451
vilipendc1470
indeign1483
misprize1483
dain?1518
to look down on (also upon)1539
floccipend1548
contempta1555
to take scorn ata1566
embase1577
sdeign1590
disesteem1594
vilify1599
to set lightly, coldly1604
disrepute1611
to hold cheapa1616
avile1616
floccify1623
meprize1633
to think (also believe, etc.) meanly of1642
publican1648
naucify1653
disesteem1659
invalue1673
to set light, at light1718
sneeze1806
sniff1837
derry1896
to hold no brief for1918
1599 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie (new ed.) iii. Satyra Nova sig. Hv Opinion mounts this froth vnto the skies, Whom iudgements reason iustly vilefies.
1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. i. 60 A private man, vilified, and thought to have but little in him.
1657 P. Heylyn Cosmographie (ed. 2) iv. i. 993 Gold here so vilified, that they exchange it gladly for Brasse.
1671 C. Trenchfield Cap of Gray Hairs 27 For no man but vilifies that person in his own estimate, who is loose-bodied upon that account.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > be unimportant [verb (intransitive)] > become less important or unimportant > become worthless
vanishc1380
vilifya1654
a1654 H. Binning Sinners Sanctuary x, in Wks. (1735) 210/1 It is Ignorance that magnifies other Mysteries, which vilify through Knowledge.
Derivatives
ˈvilified adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [adjective] > degraded
degraded1483
debased1593
sunk1618
hang-dog1677
meanc1680
unpedestalled1823
vilified1828
disrated1891
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 50 He knows how willingly Clement Blair will lay down a vilified life upon earth.
ˈvilifying n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [noun]
teleeOE
folk-leasinga1000
tolec1000
wrayingc1000
missaw?c1225
slanderc1290
disclanderc1300
famationc1325
noisec1325
skander1338
missaying1340
misspeecha1375
slanderingc1380
biting1382
defaminga1400
filtha1400
missaya1400
obloquya1438
oblocution?a1439
juroryc1440
defamationa1450
defamea1450
forspeaking1483
depravinga1500
defamya1513
injury?1518
depravation1526
maledictiona1530
abusion?1530
blasphemation1533
infamation1533
insectationa1535
calumning1541
calumniation?1549
abuse1559
calumnying1563
calumny1564
belying?1565
illingc1575
scandalizing1575
misparlance?1577
blot1587
libelling1587
scandal1596
traducement1597
injurying1604
deprave1610
vilifying1611
noisec1613
disfame1620
sycophancy1622
aspersion1633
disreport1640
medisance1648
bollocking1653
vilification1653
sugillation1654
blasphemya1656
traduction1656
calumniating1660
blaspheming1677
aspersing1702
blowing1710
infamizing1827
malignation1836
mud-slinging1858
mud-throwing1864
denigration1868
mud-flinging1876
dénigrement1883
malignment1885
injurious falsehood1907
mud-sling1919
bad-mouthing1939
bad mouth1947
trash-talking1974
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [adjective]
horyc1000
missayingc1330
slandering1402
disclanderous1421
maligningc1425
defamatoryc1485
calumnious1490
defamative1502
slanderous?1521
infaming1535
obtractuous1537
defaminga1550
defamous1557
black-mouthed1560
sycophanticala1566
malignious1578
libelling1587
blasting1591
maledicent1599
traducing1601
black-throated1604
blasphemous1605
depraving1606
abusive1608
calumniating1609
obloquious1611
vilifying1611
infamatory1612
calumniatory1625
aspersionating1639
aspersive1642
scandalizing1646
reflexive1654
unworthying1654
reflecting1656
reflective1664
slanderful1669
aspersing1673
reflectious1715
traducent1736
obloquial1790
sycophantic1801
wronging1845
trash-talking1975
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > [adjective]
vile1297
derogative1477
derogatory1502
vild1568
derogatoriousa1575
lessening1592
dishonoured1608
indignous1611
derogant1616
unmanning1625
infimatinga1641
prostituting1646
embasing1652
menial1673
degrading1684
debasing1775
vilifying1781
degradatory1783
dishonouring1843
relegating1872
demeaning1880
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. ⁋12 Their second defence of their vilifying and abusing of the English Bibles.
1643 Proclam. Charles I warning Subjects 20 June (single sheet) To countenance the vilifying of the Booke of Common-Prayer.
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim xv. 125 I will not recite all the vilifying language..which he was affronted with.
1676 M. Hale Contempl. Moral & Divine: 2nd Pt. ii. 183 In the midst of all the..Vilifyings that the World heaps upon me.
1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels I. 81 That vilifying Malice and Contempt, which Proud and Profligate People..let fly at Them and their Office.
1781 J. Moore View Soc. Italy (1790) II. l. 68 Free from all the villifying effects of dirt.
ˈvilifyingly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [adverb]
noisingly1426
slanderously1429
slanderfully1550
defamously1563
defamedly1567
backbitingly1580
abusively?1593
disgracefully1604
calumniously1625
contumeliously1632
reflectingly1643
slanderingly1648
aspersively1653
defamatorily1659
vilifyingly1682
reflexivelya1716
libellously1832
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 203 Thou didst also teach the Town of Mansoul to speak contemptuously, and vilifyingly of their great King Shaddai. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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