Calumniate (verb)
kal-um-nee-ayt
to make false and malicious statements about; slander.
1545–55; Latin calumniātus (past participle of calumniārī to accuse falsely, trick), equivalent to calumni(a) calumny + -ātus-ate1
Example sentences
“We could hear the young men calumniate us and our reputations before we’d even left!”
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Foudroyant (adj) foo-droi-unt Sudden and overwhelming in effect; stunning; dazzling. First recorded in English between 1830–40. From French foudroyer, “to strike with lightning,” derivative of foudre, “lightning.” (more…)
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Gestalt (noun) ges-talt something with two or more parts that are so integrated that they are perceived as one. First used between 1920–25, directly from German Gestalt, “figure, form, structure.”…
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Protocol (noun) pro-tuh-kol The customs and regulations dealing with formality, procedure, precedence, and etiquette. First recorded in 1535–45; earlier protocoll, from Medieval Latin prōtocollum, from Late Greek prōtókollon originally, “a…
![](https://forreadingaddicts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/expeditious.jpg)
Expeditious (adj) eks-ped-ish-us Characterized by promptness; quick. First recorded between 1590–1600 and formed from exped(ition) + -itious. (more…)
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Bulbul (noun) bool-bool A bird often mentioned in Persian poetry, thought to be a nightingale. Of imitative origin, borrowed into English from Persian around 1775–85. In Arabic, bulbul is the…
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Lovelorn (adj) luv-lawrn Being without love; forsaken by one's lover. First recorded in 1625–35; love + lorn (more…)
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Philtre (noun) fil-ter A potion, charm, or drug supposed to cause the person taking it to fall in love, usually with some specific person. First recorded in 1580–90; from French…
![](https://forreadingaddicts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/diffident.jpg)
Diffident (adj) dif-uh-dent shy; lacking self-confidence. First recorded between 1425–75. From Latin diffīdēns, “mistrusting, despairing.” (more…)