sully

SUL'LY, v.t.

1. To soil; to dirt; to spot; to tarnish.

And statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.

2. To tarnish; to darken.

Let there be no spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity.

3. To stain; to tarnish; as the purity of reputation; as virtues sullied by slanders; character sullied by infamous vices.

SUL'LY, v.i. To be soiled or tarnished.

Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.

SUL'LY, n. Soil, tarnish; spot.

A noble and triumphant merit breaks through little spots and sullies on his reputation.