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sully - What does it mean?

Definition of 'sully'

English

Alternative forms

* (l)

Verb

  • to soil or stain; to dirty
  • He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening.
  • * Roscommon
  • statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke
  • to damage or corrupt
  • He did not wish to sully his reputation with an ill-mannered comment.
  • * Atterbury
  • no spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity
  • To become soiled or tarnished.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.