besmear

American  

[bih-smeer] / bɪˈsmɪər /

verb (used with object)

1. to smear all over; bedaub.

2. to sully; defile; soil.

   to besmear someone's reputation.

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besmear British  

/ bɪˈsmɪə /

verb

1. to smear over; daub

2. to sully; defile (often in the phrase besmear ( a person's ) reputation )

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Other Word Forms

• besmearer
  noun
• unbesmeared
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of besmear

before 1050; Middle English bismeren, Old English besmerian. See be-, smear

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

besmear

Put them to fry over a very quick fire in a pan first glased over, with no more Butter melted in it, then just to besmear a little all the bottom of the Pan.

From The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened by MacDonell, Anne

I had noticed before, in the Malmö prison, how the prisoners tried to besmear this glass, or scratch on it, with a sort of fury, so that it was often impossible to see through it.

From Recollections of My Childhood and Youth by Brandes, Georg Morris Cohen

I was enforc'd to send it after him; I was beset with shame and courtesy; My honour would not let ingratitude So much besmear it.

From The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, William

They make little fires during the day, sleeping at night among the warm ashes, with which they besmear their bodies.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 09 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert

The modern harpies besmear every noble thought till it becomes unpalatable and nauseous; and thus must Clodwig wrestle and fight for the common daily bread of the spirit.

From Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Auerbach, Berthold