CALUMNY Meaning and
Definition
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Calumny refers to the act of making false and malicious statements about someone with the intent to damage their reputation. It involves spreading rumors, lies, or defamatory remarks that are intended to harm an individual's character or standing in society. Calumny can be seen as a deliberate and dishonest attack on someone's reputation, often motivated by personal gain or a desire to undermine the credibility or success of another person.
The term originated from the Latin word "calumnia" meaning "false accusation" or "slander." Calumny is considered a harmful and unethical practice because it unjustly tarnishes the reputation and integrity of an individual, often causing significant harm to their personal and professional life.
Calumny relies on public opinion and the power of word-of-mouth to discredit the targeted individual, making it a form of social manipulation that can inflict harm on innocent individuals. It is closely associated with defamation and libel, although calumny is generally regarded as making false statements orally or by spreading rumors rather than through written material.
Legal systems in many jurisdictions recognize calumny as a punishable offense, as it not only violates the rights and dignity of the targeted individual but can also have wider social implications. Various defamation laws exist to protect individuals from the damaging consequences of calumny and provide legal recourse for those who have been unjustly vilified and harmed by false accusations.
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Slander; false accusation; the making and spreading of reports injurious to character.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for CALUMNY *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for CALUMNY
Etymology of CALUMNY
The word "calumny" originates from the Latin word "calumnia", which means false accusation, slander, or wrongful claim. In Latin, "calumnia" was derived from the verb "calvi", meaning to deceive or trick. Over time, the term evolved and was borrowed into English in the 14th century, maintaining its original meaning of making false and damaging accusations.
Similar spelling words for CALUMNY
- calmly,
- calm,
- caelum,
- call on,
- call in,
- Callan,
- calming,
- Callen,
- Callaham,
- callihan,
- call-in,
- column,
- Callahan,
- clumsy.
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