Slander

Slan′der (slăn′dẽr), n. [OE. sclandere, OF. esclandre, esclandle, escandre, F. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. ??? 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. Shak.

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 (slăn′dẽr), 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.