sullying
|sul/ly/ing|
C1
/ˈsʌliɪŋ/
(sully)
tarnish reputation
Etymology
Etymology Information
'sully' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'souillier', where 'souiller' meant 'to soil or make dirty'.
Historical Evolution
'souillier' transformed into the Middle English word 'sulien', and eventually became the modern English word 'sully'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to soil or make dirty', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle of 'sully', meaning to tarnish or soil something.
The scandal was sullying the company's reputation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45