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A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another. Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the mos…

. (b) (Mil.) Money allowed to soldiers or sailors, in the English service, for wounds and injures received; also, a sum paid by a recruit, previous to being sworn in, to procure his release from service. (c) (Law) Vindictive or exemplary damages; damages beyond a full compensation for the actual injury done. Burrill. G…

To injure or destroy, as a steamboat or other vessel, by a snag, or projecting part of a sunken tree. [U. S.]

A current which, though too feeble to blow the usual fuse or to injure at once telegraph or telephone instruments, will in time burn them out.

To injure by too long exposure to the light of the sun in the camera; to burn.

compensates for suffering or loss; a compensation; esp., an additional allowance, as for injured feelings.

To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to. Spare us, good Lord. Book of Common Prayer. Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. Milton. Man alone can whom he conquers spare. Waller.

Fig.: To injure by aspersion; to defame; to soil; also, to throw out in a defamatory manner.

To mar; to injure; to deface; hence, to destroy by misuse; to waste. [Obs.] They [the colors] disfigure the stuff and spill the whole workmanship. Puttenham. Spill not the morning, the quintessence of day, in recreations. Fuller.

To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart.

Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious; as, a spiteful person or act. Shak. -- Spite"ful*ly, adv. Spite"ful*ness, n.

A thin piece of wood, or other substance, used to keep in place, or protect, an injured part, especially a broken bone when set.

To render useless by injury; to injure fatally; to ruin; to destroy; as, to spoil paper; to have the crops spoiled by insects; to spoil the eyes by reading.

Fig.: To injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander; as, to stab a person's reputation.

By stabbing; with intent to injure covertly. Bp. Parker.

To remain without ruin or injury; to hold good against tendencies to impair or injure; to be permanent; to endure; to last; hence, to find endurance, strength, or resources. My mind on its own center stands unmoved. Dryden.

Beaten, injured, or impaired by storms. Spenser.

To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force; as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship.

Solid; tough; not easily broken or injured; able to withstand violence; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong beam; a strong rock; a strong fortress or town.

To be injured; to sustain loss or damage. Public business suffers by private infirmities. Sir W. Temple.