Backbiting

From Fresh Dictionary

English

Noun

  1. The action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge.
    • 1303 No custummable bakbytyng God.... — Robert Manning of Brune, Handlyng synne
    • 1862 Not given to backbiting. — Anthony Trollope, Orley Farm

Adjective

  1. Describes a person who slanders or speaks badly of a person without that person's knowledge.
    • 1580 Backbiting talk that flattering blabs know wily how to blenge. — Thomas Tusser, A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie
    • 1873 Am I to have a backbiting wife? — Rhoda Broughton, Nancy
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