[ad. L. type *vīlificātio: see VILIFY v. and -FICATION. So OF. vilification (15th cent.).]
1. The action of rendering vile in worth or estate; degradation. rare–1.
1630. Donne, Deaths Duell (1632), 22. That … that priuat and retir’d man … must [in his dust] … bee mingled with the dust of euery high way…. This is the most inglorious and contemptible vilification.
2. The action of vilifying by means of abusive language; reviling; an instance of this.
1653. H. More, Def. Cabbala, Pref. 83. I will not deny, but they have mingled their own fooleries with it…: Such as … reproaches against the Pleasures of the Body; Vilification of Marriage, and the like.
1660. Trial Regic. (1679), 203. Then you spake in vilification of Monarchical Government.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 230. Either way is declared that which is a contumely and vilification of God.
1780. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xviii. § 34. Thus we have two genera or kinds of offences against reputation merely; to wit, 1. Defamation and 2. Vilification or Revilement.
1859. Boyd, Recreat. Country Parson, iii. 83. If you try … to live an honest, christian life, it will go hard, but you will live down such malicious vilification.
a. 1884. M. Pattison, Mem. (1885), 322. The whole literary effort of the Catholic reaction … had been directed to beating down his fame by an organised system of detraction and vilification.
b. An abusive remark or speech. rare.
1799. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxxii. 324. This epistle was made up of falsehoods, misrepresentations and vilifications.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), II. 164. In the mean time vilifications plenty there were at their tongues’ end.
3. The action of bringing into disrepute.
1652. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Hist. Relat., 134. The losse of reputation (the soul of Empire) to the Crown of Spain; the Truce being made to the so much vilification thereof.
