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besmirch (v.)

"to soil with soot or mud, to sully," now usually figurative, 1590s, from be- + smirch.

Our Gayness and our Gilt are all besmyrcht. ["Henry V," IV.iii.110]

Related: Besmirched; besmirching.

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Definitions of besmirch from WordNet

besmirch (v.)
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone;
besmirch (v.)
smear so as to make dirty or stained;
Synonyms: smirch
From wordnet.princeton.edu