sully \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, s"uhlen to wallow, sw. s"ola to
   bemire, dan. s"ole, 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.
   1913 webster

         statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke.
                                                  --roscommon.
   1913 webster

         no spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity.
                                                  --atterbury.
   1913 webster
see also:
sullied sullying