backbiting
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology 1
From Middle English bacbiting, bacbitung, equivalent to backbite + -ing.
[edit] Noun
backbiting (plural backbitings)
- The action of slandering a person without that person's knowledge.
- 1303, Robert Manning of Brune, Handlyng synne
- No custummable bakbytyng God....
- 1862, Anthony Trollope, Orley Farm
- Not given to backbiting.
- 1303, Robert Manning of Brune, Handlyng synne
[edit] Etymology 2
From backbite.
[edit] Adjective
backbiting (comparative more backbiting, superlative most backbiting)
- A person who slanders or speaks badly of a person without that person's knowledge.
- 1580, Thomas Tusser, A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie
- Backbiting talk that flattering blabs know wily how to blenge.
- 1873, Rhoda Broughton, Nancy
- Am I to have a backbiting wife?
- 1580, Thomas Tusser, A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie
[edit] Verb
backbiting
- Present participle of backbite.
