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Webster 1913 Edition

Backbite

Back′biteˊ

,
Verb.
T.
[2d
back
, n. +
bite
.]
To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or spitefully (an absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one absent).
Spenser.

Back′biteˊ

,
Verb.
I.
To censure or revile the absent.
They are arrant knaves, and will
backbite
.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Backbite

BACK'BITE

,
Verb.
T.
[back and bite] To censure, slander, reproach, or speak evil of the absent. Prov.xxv.

Definition 2024

backbite

backbite

See also: back-bite

English

Alternative forms

Verb

backbite ‎(third-person singular simple present backbites, present participle backbiting, simple past backbit, past participle backbitten)

  1. To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
  2. (informal) To attack from behind or when out of earshot with spiteful or defamatory remarks.
  3. To speak badly of an absent individual.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:defame

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

backbite ‎(plural backbites)

  1. One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter.

Etymology

From Middle English bakbiten, bacbiten, equivalent to back +‎ bite. Cognate with Icelandic bakbíta ‎(“to backbite, vilify”).

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