slander
nounverbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈslɑːndə//
- United Kingdom//ˈslandə//
- United States//ˈslændɚ//
- Australia//ˈslaːndə//
- Australia//ˈslændə//
A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.
noun
- 1
A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.
- 2
Vehement (and often exaggerated) criticism of a character, franchise, etc.
Etymology
From Middle English slaundre, sclaundre, from Old French esclandre, from Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum (“stumbling block, temptation”), from Ancient Greek σκάνδαλον (skándalon, “scandal”). Doublet of scandal.
verb
- 1
To utter a slanderous statement about; baselessly speak ill of; to wrong.
Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]
Forms
- plural
- slanders
- past tense
- slandered
- past participle
- slandered
- present participle
- slandering
- third person singular
- slanders
slander · A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a…
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