Category:Slander

Slan"der, n. Etym: [oe. sclandere, of. esclandre, esclandle, Escandre, f. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, gr. 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. Shak.

3. (law)

Defn: 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.

Slander Slan"der, v. 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. Shak.

2. To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts. Tax not so bad a voice to slander music any more than once. Shak.

Syn. -- to asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; Scandalize; reproach. See asperse.