damnify

[ dam-nuh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, Law.

, dam·ni·fied, dam·ni·fy·ing.

1. to cause loss or damage to.

damnify

/ ˈdæmnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. law to cause loss or damage to (a person); injure

Derived Forms

• ˌdamnifiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• un·damni·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of damnify¹

1505–15; < Middle French damnifier, Old French < Late Latin damnificāre, derivative of Latin damnific ( us ) harmful, equivalent to damn ( um ) damage + -ificus ( -i-, -fic ); -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of damnify¹

C16: from Old French damnifier, ultimately from Latin damnum harm, + facere to make

Example Sentences

In Haverhill, in 1708, young women were permitted to build pews, provided they did not "damnify the Stairway."

From Project Gutenberg

Alexander commanded his soldiers neither to damnify Pindarus, the poet, nor any of his family.

From Project Gutenberg

We should damnify religion if we separated it from philosophy: we should ruin philosophy if we divorced it from religion.

From Project Gutenberg