bemire

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to cover, soil, or trap in mud or mire

   The flooded track began to bemire every traveller's boots.

2. 2
   verb

   figurative: to stain a reputation or involve someone in a degrading situation

   The scandal threatened to bemire the institution's reputation.

From Middle English bemyren, formed from be-, here meaning 'all over,' + mire. The literal image of covering with mud readily extended to staining character or reputation.

Topics

External links

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