v. [f. L. calumniāt- ppl. stem of calumniāri; see -ATE3. Cf. 16th-c. Fr. calomnier.]
1. trans. To asperse with calumny, utter calumny regarding; to accuse or charge falsely and maliciously with something criminal or disreputable; to slander.
1594. Bp. Hooper, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xxiv. 67. So that hatred unto the trewth dyd alwayse falsly reporte and calumniate all godly mens doinges.
1611. Bible, Pref., 2, marg. The highest personages haue been calumniated.
1620. N. Brent, trans. Sarpi’s Hist. Council Trent (1676), 480. Mantua was … calumniated to be ill affected.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 2. 12. He was never heard to Calumniate his Adversary for want of Argument.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 309. We must not calumniate even the Inquisition.
b. intr. (absol.) To utter calumnies.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 124. Deceptious functions Created onely to calumniate.
1699. Bentley, Phal., Pref. p. xxvii. The Editor and his Witnesses may calumniate as they please.
† 2. To charge (a thing) calumniously against a person. Obs. rare.
1648. Eikon Bas., xii. 95. I thought, that … the gaining of that respite could not be so much to the Rebels advantages (which some haue highly calumniated against me).
