damnify

American  

[dam-nuh-fahy] / ˈdæm nəˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

Law.

damnified, damnifying

1. to cause loss or damage to.

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damnify British  

/ ˈdæmnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

• damnification noun
• undamnified adjective

Etymology

Origin of damnify

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

Example Sentences

It was just within the bounds of probability that they might be able to overthrow that remarkable pedestrian tour; or they might light on other facts tending to elucidate his connection with Michael Sinson; or at least might further damnify his general character.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Secondly, a man may damnify another by preventing him from obtaining what he was on the way to obtain.

From Project Gutenberg

Permissions to build were often given with modifying restrictions to the aspiring pew-builders, as for instance is recorded of the Haverhill church, "provided they would not build so high as to damnify and hinder the light of them windows," or of the Waterbury church, "if the pues will not progodish the hous."

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg