traduce

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to speak maliciously and falsely about someone; to defame

   The pamphlet tried to traduce the reformer with rumors rather than evidence.

2. 2
   verb

   to misrepresent or distort something while presenting it

   The summary traduced the argument by leaving out its central qualification.

3. 3
   verb

   to transmit, hand down, or carry over; now rare

   Older writers used traduce for traits traduced from one generation to the next.

From Latin traducere ("to lead across, carry over; expose to disgrace"), from trans- ("across") + ducere ("to lead"). The older carry-over sense survives historically, while the modern sense narrowed toward leading someone's reputation into disgrace.

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