de·fame /di-'fām/ vt de·famed, de·fam·ing [Medieval Latin defamare, alteration of Latin diffamare to spread news of, defame, from dis -, prefix marking dispersal or removal + fama reputation]: to make the subject of defamation
de·fam·er n
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.