backbiting

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[edit] English

[edit] Verb

backbiting

  1. Present participle of backbite.

[edit] Noun

Singular
backbiting

Plural
backbitings

backbiting (plural backbitings)

  1. 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.

[edit] Adjective

backbiting (comparative more backbiting, superlative most backbiting)

Positive
backbiting

Comparative
more backbiting

Superlative
most backbiting

  1. 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?