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Webster 1913 Edition


Slander

Slan′der

,
Noun.
[OE.
sclandere
, OF.
esclandre
,
esclandle
,
escandre
, F.
esclandre
, fr. L.
scandalum
, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] a snare, stumbling block, offense, scandal; probably originally, the spring of a trap, and akin to Skr.
skand
to spring, leap. See
Scan
, and cf.
Scandal
.]
1.
A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another.
Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call “reviling;” the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call “
slander
”, or “Backbiting.”
Tillotson.
[We] make the careful magistrate
The mark of
slander
.
B. Jonson.
2.
Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium.
Thou
slander
of thy mother’s heavy womb.
Shakespeare
3.
(Law)
Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under
Defamation
.
Burril.

Slan′der

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Slandered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Slandering
.]
1.
To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate.
O, do not
slander
him, for he is kind.
Shakespeare
2.
To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts.
Tax not so bad a voice
To
slander
music any more than once.
Shakespeare
Syn. – To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See
Asperse
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Slander

SLA'NDER

,
Noun.
1.
A false tale or report maliciously uttered. and tending to injure the reputation of another by lessening him in the esteem of his fellow citizens, by exposing min to impeachment and punishment, or by impairing his means of lining; defamation. Slander, that worst of poisons, ever finds an easy entrance to ignoble minds.
2 Disgrace; reproach; disreputation; ill name.

SLA'NDER

,
Verb.
T.
To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report respecting one; to tarnish or impair the reputation of one by false tales, maliciously told or propagated.

Definition 2024


slander

slander

English

Alternative forms

Noun

slander (plural slanders)

  1. A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken or published), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:slander

Antonyms

Translations

Verb

slander (third-person singular simple present slanders, present participle slandering, simple past and past participle slandered)

  1. To utter a slanderous statement; baselessly speak ill of.

Synonyms

  • defame
  • libel (always in writing)
  • See also Wikisaurus:defame

Antonyms

  • glorify (baselessly speak well of)

Translations

See also

Anagrams