3. An abstraction of money, etc., by an officer or agent having it in trust; an embezzlement.
Defalcator
(Def"al*ca`tor) n. A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]
Defalk
(De*falk") v. t. [F. défalquer. See Defalcate.] To lop off; to abate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Defamation
(Def`a*ma"tion) n. [OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. See Defame.] Act of injuring another's
reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good
name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.
In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel, and oral defamation that of slander. Burrill.
Defamatory
(De*fam"a*to*ry) a. Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious; slanderous; as,
defamatory words; defamatory writings.
Defame
(De*fame") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defamed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defaming.] [OE. defamen, diffamen,
from F. diffamer, or OF. perh. defamer, fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous); dis- (in this word
confused with de) + fama a report. See Fame.]
1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to
dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.
2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.
My guilt thy growing virtues did defame;
My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name.
Dryden. 3. To charge; to accuse. [R.]
Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a noble knight.
Sir W. Scott. Syn. — To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See Asperse.
Defame
(De*fame"), n. Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Defamer
(De*fam"er) n. One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.
Defamingly
(De*fam"ing*ly), adv. In a defamatory manner.
Defamous
(Def"a*mous) a. Defamatory. [Obs.]
Defatigable
(De*fat"i*ga*ble) a. [See Defatigate.] Capable of being wearied or tired out. [R.] Glanvill.
Defatigate
(De*fat"i*gate) v. t. [L. defatigatus, p. p. of defatigare; de- + fatigare to weary. See Fatigue.]
To weary or tire out; to fatigue. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
Defatigation
(De*fat`i*ga"tion) n. [L. defatigatio.] Weariness; fatigue. [R.] Bacon.
Default
(De*fault") n. [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F. défaut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb
meaning, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.]
1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires; as,
this evil has happened through the governor's default.
