vilify \VIL-uh-fahy\,
verb:
1. to speak ill of; defame; slander.
2. Obsolete. to make vile.
Mr. Tallboys [chanting]: “O all ye children of men, curse ye the Lord, curse Him and vilify Him for ever!”
-- George Orwell, "A Clergyman's Daughter," 1935
...and as they conceived the kindness and affection which Mr Allworthy showed the latter, must be highly disagreeable to her, they doubted not but the laying hold on all occasions to degrade and vilify him, would be highly pleasing to her...
-- Henry Fielding, "Tom Jones," 1749
Vilify entered English in the 1400s from the Latin roots vilis meaning "cheap," "base," or "worthless," and facere meaning "to make."
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