Sul"ly (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sullied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sullying (?).] [OE. sulien, AS. sylian, fr. sol mire; akin to G. suhle mire, sich, sühlen to wallow, Sw. söla to bemire, Dan. söle, Goth. bisaulijan to defile.] To soil; to dirty; to spot; to tarnish; to stain; to darken; -- used literally and figuratively; as, to sully a sword; to sully a person's reputation.

Statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.

No spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity.

Sul"ly, v. i. To become soiled or tarnished.

Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.

Sul"ly, n.; pl. Sullies (&?;). Soil; tarnish; stain.

A noble and triumphant merit breaks through little spots and sullies in his reputation.

Sul"ly (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sullied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sullying (?).] [OE. sulien, AS. sylian, fr. sol mire; akin to G. suhle mire, sich, sühlen to wallow, Sw. söla to bemire, Dan. söle, Goth. bisaulijan to defile.] To soil; to dirty; to spot; to tarnish; to stain; to darken; -- used literally and figuratively; as, to sully a sword; to sully a person's reputation.

Statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.

No spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity.

Sul"ly, v. i. To become soiled or tarnished.

Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.

Sul"ly, n.; pl. Sullies (&?;). Soil; tarnish; stain.

A noble and triumphant merit breaks through little spots and sullies in his reputation.

• to soil or stain; to dirty
       He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening.
  
• to damage or corrupt
       He did not wish to sully his reputation with an ill-mannered comment.