sully (v.)

1590s, probably from French souiller "to soil," also figurative, from Old French soillier "make dirty" (see soil (v.)). Related: Sullied (1570s); sullying.

Entries linking to sully

soil (v.)

early 13c., "to defile or pollute with sin," from Old French soillier "to splatter with mud, to foul or make dirty," originally "to wallow" (12c., Modern French souillier), from souil "tub, wild boar's wallow, pigsty," which is from either Latin solium "tub for bathing; seat" (from PIE *sodio- "seat," from root *sed- "to sit") or Latin suculus "little pig," from sus "pig." Literal meaning "to make dirty, begrime" is attested from c. 1300 in English. Related: Soiled; soiling.

unsullied (adj.)

1580s, from un- (1) "not" + past participle of sully (v.).

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Definitions of sully

sully (v.)

place under suspicion or cast doubt upon;

sully someone's reputation

Synonyms: defile / corrupt / taint / cloud

sully (v.)

make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically;

Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man

Synonyms: tarnish / stain / maculate / defile

sully (v.)

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone;

The article in the paper sullied my reputation

Synonyms: defame / slander / smirch / asperse / denigrate / calumniate / smear / besmirch

Sully (n.)

United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872);

Synonyms: Thomas Sully

Sully (n.)

French statesman (1560-1641);

Synonyms: Duc de Sully / Maxmilien de Bethune

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near sully

sulfuric

sulfurous

sulk

sulky

sullen

sully

sulphur

sulphureous

sulphuric

sulphurous

sultan