Where does “calumny” come from?
Calumny comes from Middle English calumnīe, from Old French calomnie, meaning false accusation or slander.
calumny (English): A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish...
Definitions
- A false accusation or charge brought to tarnish...
Ancestry of “calumny”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | calumnīe | false accusation, slander; objection raised in... |
| 2 | Old French | calomnie | slander, calumny |
| 3 | Latin | calumnia | A cunning device, trickery, artifice, sophistry,... |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | kalwomniā | — |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | kalwomnos | deceiving, accusing |