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

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Etymology

Origin of besmear

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

besmear

Of course, you will cut your beautiful locks, besmear your cheeks, and there you are.

From Six Women and the Invasion by Gabrielle Yerta

The women besmear themselves with the most disgusting filth.

From The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) The Belief Among the Aborigines of Australia, the Torres Straits Islands, New Guinea and Melanesia by Sir James George Frazer

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 William Shakespeare

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 Robert Kerr

Beslobber, be-slob′ėr, v.t. to besmear with the spittle running from one's mouth: to cover with drivelling kisses: to flatter fulsomely.—v.t.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

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