GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Sully , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sullied ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sullying .] [OE. sulien, AS. sylian, fr. sol mire; akin to G. suhle mire, sich, sühlen to wallow, Sw. söla to bemire, Dan. söle, Goth. bisaulijan to defile.] To soil; to dirty; to spot; to tarnish; to stain; to darken; -- used literally and figuratively; as, to sully a sword; to sully a person's reputation.
   1913 Webster
   Statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.
   Roscommon.
   
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   No spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity.
   Atterbury.
   
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2.       
   Sully, v. i. To become soiled or tarnished.
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   Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.
   Bacon.
   
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3.       
   Sully, n.; pl. Sullies . Soil; tarnish; stain.
   1913 Webster
   A noble and triumphant merit breaks through little spots and sullies in his reputation.
   Spectator.
   
   1913 Webster