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

The reverse of besmear is to rub off; hence to obliterate means to rub out, to erase.

From Orthography As Outlined in the State Course of Study for Illinois by Cavins, Elmer W.

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

In all history it has been shown that he who seeks to besmear others usually leaves the greatest amount of mud on himself.

From My Attainment of the Pole by Cook, Frederick A.

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

From Six Women and the Invasion by Yerta, Gabrielle

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 Frazer, James George, Sir