probrum

Maledictum is any utterance of what is injurious to another, whether to bring him ill-luck by cursing, or disgrace by verbal injuries, like κακηγορία; probrum (from προφέρω) an invective, like ὄνειδος, consisting of attacks and assertions wounding the honor of another; convicium (καταικία) the abusive word, like λοιδορία, consisting of single words and appellations wounding the honor of another. For example, fur! is a convicium, fur es, a probrum; each of them a maledictum. (iv. 198.)

1. Ignominia deprives one of political honor, which is independent of the reports circulated concerning a man, and is the consequence of an official denunciation, the justice of which is supposed; that of the censor, for example, like ἀτιμία; whereas infamia deprives one of moral honor, of one’s good name, has a reference to public scorn, and is the consequence of shameless and dishonorable conduct, like δυσφημία. 2. Ignominia and infamia are abstract, and denote subjective states; dedecus and probrum are concrete, and denote, objectively, disgrace itself; dedecus is a deviation from the conduct that becomes a man of honor, from whom noble actions are expected; probrum is a stain on the morality of a man, from whom, at least, irreproachable conduct is expected. Dedecus is incurred generally in our public relations, by abjectness of spirit, etc.; probrum, in our private relations, by licentiousness, etc. 3. Probrum (from προφέρω is reproach, as far as it can justly be made; opprobrium, reproach, as far as it actually is made. In probrum the disgrace itself is more considered; in opprobrium, the open proclamation of it.