defamatory 
Abuse issiill much ni"iv eonxeuii HI I)I:IM argument, and 
tin- most elleetive lol'in of abuse iu a chili/cd age is :i <!>'- 
fiiiniiii,r : i nickname. //. .V. <>jt,'nhii,u. Short similes, p. ... 
defame (de-fam'), '. t. ; pret. and pp. dt-faitn-tl. 
ppr. definniiit/. [< MK. drj'anirii, diffiiHirn, < 
OF. <l/j'/imi'r, ilrjj'iinitr, dexfamrr, iUffiunii', V. 
iiiffiniii'r = I'r. Pg. tKffamar = Sp. difmnar = 
It. iliffiniinrc, < L. i/ijjiimiii'i; spread aliroad a 
report, es|i. an ill report, defame, nmlign, < fto- 
priv. + fiiiiiii, a report: see _/-. The pn-lix 
is thus Vcir lj. ilia-; but cf. LL. defaiHiilii/i, dis- 
honored, difiiniin, infamous.] 1. To slander or 
calumniate', as liy uttering or publishing mali- 
ciously something which tends to injure the 
reputation or interests of; speak evil of; dis- 
bouor by false reports. 
Beiiiisili'fiiiiu'il, we iatreat. 1 Cnr. iv. lit. 
If you are unjustly -/.;/Wmn/ inn! reproached, consider 
what contumelies anil disgraces the Sou of liod underwent 
for you. Hiilli/i!iilt'i't, Sermons, I. vi. 
Ami wlin unknown di-fiime me, let them be 
Scribblers or peers, alike me mob to me. 
Pope, Inilt. of Horace, II. i. i:). 
2. To charge; accuse; especially, to accuse 
falsely. [Archaic.] 
Itehecca ... is ... ilf famed of sorcery practised on 
the person of a noble knight. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxviii. 
3. To degrade ; bring into disrepute ; make in- 
famous. 
The til-ami .,lil name of gentleman, 
Defamed by every charlatan. 
Tennyson, In Memorlam, cxi. 
Syn. 1. Ciif'ituni/itt 1 . Slander, etc. See arpente. 
defamet (de-fam'), . [< ME. defame, also <lif- 
fiiiin j , n., ^ OF. diffiime (also defamie, < LL. 
diffamin), infamy; from the verb.] Infamy; 
disgrace. 
So ought all faytonrs that true knighthood shame . . . 
From all brave knights be hanisht with defame. 
Spemcr, F. Q., V. ill. 88. 
defamed (de-famd'), j>. <j. 1. Slandered or li- 
beled. 2. In her., deprived of its tail: said of 
a beast used as a bearing. Also diffamed. 
defamer (de-fa'mer), . A slanderer; libeler; 
detractor ; calumniator. 
The scandalous inclination of defamerg. 
Fieldimj, Joseph Andrews. 
defaming (de-fa'ming), . The practice of defa- 
mation; slander; calumny. 
They feed upon opinions, errors, dreams, 
And make 'em truths ; they draw a nourishment 
out of iti't'ainiiKix. grow upon disgraces. 
Beau, and t'l., Philaster, iii. '. 
defamingly (de-fa'ming-li), adv. In a slander- 
ous manner. 
defamoust (def'a-mus), a. [< LL. defamis, in- 
famous, < de- priv. + fama, fame : see defame, 
and cf. infamous.] Conveying defamation; 
slanderous. 
DefaniouK words. Holinshed, Ohron., II. sig. Kk 1. 
defatigabler (de-fat'i-ga-bl), a. [< L. as if *de- 
j'iiH</liili.-<,< ili-j'ii lii/iirc, tire out: see defatigate.~\ 
Liable to be wearied. 
We were all made on set purpose defatiijable, so that all 
degrees of life might have their existence. 
trlaiivllle, Pre-exiatence of Souls. 
defatigatet (de-fat'i-gat), . t. [< L. defatiga- 
tiix, pp. of difatii/iirc (> It. defatigare), tire out, 
weary, < lie + fatigare, tire, fatigue: see /- 
//(/'".] To weary or tire. 
Which tlefatiiialinii hill. Sir T. Herbert, Travels, p. 200. 
defatigationt (de-fat-i-ga'shon), n. Weariness ; 
faint-hearteduess. 
Another reprehension of this colour is in respect of i/c- 
fiiiiiiniion, which makes perseverance of greater dignity 
than inception. Bacon, Colours of Good and Evil, ii. 
default (de-falf), n. [Early mod. E. also de- 
J'/nil. i/i I'n n /i ; < M K. defaults, prop, and usually 
defaute, < OP. defantf, deffaute, dtfalte, defaulte, 
dfffaidtf, F. default Pr.'tlrftuitn = \].diffalta,< 
ML. defaltd, for 'iliffn/litu, a deficiency, failure, 
prop. fern. pp. of "diffullire, "defiillerr (> ult. E. 
defail), fail, < L. din- or de-, away, + failure, fail : 
see /('/, and ff.fnult.'] 1. A failing or failure ; 
an omission of that which ought to be done; 
neglect to do what duty, obligation, or law re- 
quires; specifically, in Imp, a failure, to perform 
a required act in a lawsuit within the required 
time, as to plead or appear in court, or omission 
to meet a pecuniary obligation when due. 
And yf lie fynde jow in ilef/int,' and with the false holde, 
Hit shal sitte joure soules fill soure at the laste. 
I'!* rx r/:"niitni (C), iii. 153. 
Let patrons take heed, for they shall answer for all the 
souls that perish throuah their default. 
Laliiaer. :',lh Sermon bet. Kdw. VI.. l.MH. 
Tn ailmit the buy's rlaim \\ithnnt euijiiiry was impos- 
sible; MIL I those who called thcniselxes bis' parents had 
iniiili' finjiiiry impossilile. .Ind.u'ment must therefore mi 
ii^ainsl biin by default. Mufti uLiii, Hist. Eng., x. 
1499 
The only <|nction left for us of the North wan, whether 
, sbulllif satin- the rilllsr of the Vltioll to pi by il' fr.,;/' 
or maintain its existence by the aru'iimelit nf man unl 
musket. ". It', lint/urn, Essays, p. 94. 
2. Lack ; want ; failure ; defect. 
Alle these till by stroke of spere for driitulr of horse. 
.\ln-i: a (K. K. T. S.), ii. -220. 
Cooks could make artificial birds . . . in ilrjniiti of the 
real oaes. Arbuthnot, Anc. Coins. 
3. A fault; an offense; a misdeed; a wrong act. 
Never shal he more his wyf mistriste, 
'1'hoiiKh lie the soth of hir </'/""'' \\ iste. 
cliiitn-rf, I'rol. to I'lirduiier'sTale, 1. 84. 
And pardon crav'd for his so rash <ti't'"ti. 
Sptiu-'f. K. (;.. \ 1. iii. 21. 
Thine own <l.ni"li did urge 
This two-fold punishment: the mill, the seoin-L-e. 
l,lnii, 'I,.*. KlllbleUIS, Hi. 4 
4f. In hunting, a lost scent. 
The Ill-mules hadde overshot hym alle, 
And were on a defaulte yfalle. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 384. 
Judgment by default, a judgment against one hy rea- 
son of his failure to plead, or to appear in court. He is 
then said to *u/er default, or to be in default. 
default (do-falf), v. [< ME. dcfauten, fail, be 
exhausted^ < dejaute, n. : see default, .] I. 
intrans. 1. To fail in fulfilling or satisfying an 
engagement, claim, or obligation ; especially, 
to fail in meeting a legal or pecuniary obliga- 
tion at the proper time, as appearance in court, 
the payment of a debt, or the accounting for 
funds intrusted to one's care : as, a defaulting 
defendant or debtor; he has defaulted on his 
bond, or in his trust. 
"Now then!" Mr. Pancks would say to a defaulting 
lodger, " Fay up ! Come on ! " 
Dickem, Little Don-it, II. xiii. 
2f. To fail in duty ; offend. 
Pardon crav'd . . . 
That he gainst courtesie so fowly did default. 
Sjiemer, F. IJ., VI. iii. 21. 
Hut if in due prevention you default, 
How blind are you that were forewarn'd before ! 
Greene,, James IV., iii. 
3f. To omit ; neglect. 
Defaulting, unnecessary, and partial discourses. 
Hales, Sermon on Rom. xiv. 1. 
II. trans. If. To fail in the performance of. 
What they have defaulted toward him. 
w/'/i./i. Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. 
2. In law, to declare (a defendant) in default 
and enter judgment against (him), 
defaulter (de-fal'ter), H. One who makes de- 
fault; one w'hp fails to fulfil an obligation or a 
duty of any kind ; especially, one who fails to 
appear in court when required, or to pay a debt 
when due, or to make proper returns of funds 
intrusted to his care. 
The day hath been wholly taken up in calling the house 
over. The defaultern are to he called over again this day 
se'nnight, and then they, and all who shall absent them- 
selves in the mean time, are to }te proceeded against. 
MarttU, Works, I. 67. 
" Pay up ! Come on ! " "I haven't got It," Mr. Pancks's 
defaulter would reply. Dickens, Little Dorrit, II. xiii. 
defaultivet, a. [ME. defautif, < OP. defautif. 
< defaiite, default.] Defective ; imperfect. 
Y am . . . defautitif in lippis. H'.w''/, Ex. vi. 12. 
defaultlesst, . [ME. dualities; < default + 
-less.~\ Free from fault, failing, or imperfec- 
tion; perfect. 
Alle fayrnes of this lyfe here . . . 
That any man myght ordayne defautlet. 
Hampole, Prick of Conscience, I. 8897. 
defaulturet, [< default + -lire.] Failure. 
To admit some other person or persons to have the 
share of such defaulting. 
The Great //civi(Arber's Eng. Oarner, I. 317). 
defautet, An obsolete form of default. 
defet, a. An obsolete form of deaf. 
defeasance (de-fe'zans), . [Formerly also 
ili:J'ii,:inici-; < CJF. defeisanee, a rendering void, 
< defeisant, defaisant, desfaisant, ppr. of defatrt, 
desfaire, F. defaire, render void, undo : see de- 
feat.'] If. An undoing; ruin; defeat; over- 
throw. 
Being arrived where that champion stout 
After his lues defeaxaunce did renuiiae. 
Spenser, V. Q., I. xii. 12. 
2. A rendering null and void. 3. In law, a 
condition relating to a deed or other instrument, 
on performance of which the instrument is to 
be defeated or rendered void ; or a collateral 
deed (in full, a deed of defeasance), made at the 
same time with a conveyance, containing condi- 
tions on the performance of which the estate 
created may lie defeated. 
defeasanced (de-fe'zanst), a. Liable to be for- 
feited ; subject to defeasance. 
defeat 
defeaset (dr-fW), r. i. [MK. </</<><)>, iiir, 
evolved from di-fi KHHI-I-. defeasance, defeasance: 
see (tfjt IIKIIIK-I-. Cf. i/i I'm/.] 1. To forfeit. 
I u. my stiilliii. '!'-fra*ed to the di feiuler. 
^.>:lt,/tll, Snpp., lice., p. V.*.l. (.I""" 
2. To discharge ; free from ; acquit of. 
He has cbnrt. ris t., ,l,-i, -< him tharof. 
Act D"iii. I'niif.. A. H7s, p. 22. (.lamielon.) 
defeasible (de-fe'zi-bl), a. [< AF. defeasible; 
a> ili'/'i am- + -ilile.] That may be abrogated or 
annulled. 
lie came Iii the crown by a drfeairiklf title 
Sir ./. linrit'*. State of Ireland. 
defeasibleness (de-le'xi-lil-nes), n. The qual- 
ity of lieing defeasible. 
defeat (de-fef), '' ' [< ME. tlefeten, df/i-tm. 
defaittn (p]>. "drfeted, deffeted, also defet, as adj., 
after OF.: see first quot.), < AF. defeter, de- 
fester, annul, undo, < AF. defet, OF. defait, def- 
fait, deafait, denfeit (ML. defm-tim, ilijjnrliix, dis- 
feat, ruin, destroy, < L. de- or dis- priv. + 
facere, do; being of the same ult. formation 
as L. dejicere, fail: see deficient^ and cf. defeat, 
n., which, as compared with defect, n.. connects 
the notions of ' undoing ' and ' failure. Cf. also 
difi'ime, defeasance.] If. To undo; do away 
with ; deprive of vigor, prosperity, health, life, 
or value ; ruin ; destroy. 
And of hymself ymagyned he ofte 
To be defet and pale and waxen lesse 
Than he was wont. Chaucer, Troilna, v. 018. 
Pindams maketh an observation, that great and sudden 
fortune for the most part defeateth men. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 291. 
His imkindness may defeat my life. 
fihak., Othello, iv. 2. 
Defeat thy favour with an usurped beard. 
Shak., Othello, i. 3. 
(In the last extract there is perhaps an allusion to defeat- 
ure, 2.] 
Specifically 2. In lair, to annul; render null 
and void : as, to defeat a title to an estate. See 
defeasance, 3. 3. To deprive of something ex- 
pected, desired, or striven for, by some antago- 
nistic action or influence : applied to persons. 
The escheators defeated the right heir of his succession. 
llallfiin. 
4. To frustrate; prevent the success of; make 
of 110 effect; thwart: applied to things. 
Then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahitho- 
phel. 2 Ham. xv. 34. 
A man who commits a crime defeat* the end of his ex- 
istence. Kuiertton, Misc., p. 223. 
5. To overcome in a contest of any kind, as 
a battle, fight, game, debate, competition, or 
election ; vanquish ; conquer ; overthrow ; rout ; 
beat: as, to defeat an army; to defeat an op- 
posing candidate ; to defeat one's opponent at 
chess. 
Kor to draw the King on, it was given out that the Pope 
had defeated all Manfred's Forces. Baker, Chronicles, p. 85. 
= Syn. 5. Beat, Onerpouvr, Overwhelm, Defeat, Ditcouilit, 
Kmit, Overthrow, conquer. Beat is a general, somewhat 
indefinite, but vigorous word, covering the others. Over- 
poicfr and ooenchelm are the least discreditable to the 
one that loses in the struggle ; overpower Is least perma- 
nent in its effects. To onerpotrer is to overcome hy su- 
periority of strength or numbers, but the disadvantage 
may tie changed by the arrival of reinforcements. To 
overwhelm is to bear down utterly, to sweep clear away 
by superior strength. Defeat is to overcome or get the 
lietter of in some kind of contest, and implies less discredit, 
but generally greater disaster, to the defeated party than 
beat : as, that army is considered beaten which withdraws 
from the Held. Defeat implies a serious disadvantage, be- 
cause [t applies more often to large numbers engaged. /'- 
cotnfit has fallen into comparative disuse, except in its sec- 
ondary sense of foiling, etc. ; in that it expresses a com- 
paratively complete and mortifying defeat. Rout is to 
defeat and drive otf the Held in confusion. Overthrow is 
the most decisive and final of these words: it naturally 
applies only to great persons, concerns, armies, eic. See 
cvnquer. 
And though mine arms should compier twenty worlds, 
There's a lean fellow beats all conquerors. 
Dekker, Old FoltillKitus. 
Our Conquerour whom I now 
Of force believe almighty, since no less 
Than such could have o'erpmcer'd such force as ours. 
Miltou. P. L., I. 145. 
There the companions of his fall, orrwhrlm'tl 
With Hoods and whirlwinds of tempestuous tire. 
He soon discerns. HiUun, P. L., i. 76. 
The earl of Northunilierland and Hotspur defeated the 
Scots at Homildon, . . . and in that victory crowned the 
series of their services to Henry |I V.]. 
Stultb*, Const. Hist., 5 3O7. 
Did the ilueiitutitril champions of Freedom fail? 
naMi P, ^peeeb against the Slave Power. 
The armies of Charles were everywhere n.iil,;!. his fast- 
DOM stormed, his party humbled and subjugated. 
Macatilay, Hallam's Const. Hist. 
