/ˈlaɪbəl/
OriginFrom Middle English libel, from Old French libelle, from Latin libellus (“petition”, literally “booklet”). Doublet of libelle.
- countableA written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
- uncountableThe act or tort of displaying such a statement publicly.
- countableAny defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire.
- countableA written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of their cause of action, and of the relief they seek.
“These provisions of law being in force, the steamer Rio Grande, owned, as was alleged, by persons in Mexico, being in the port of Mobile, in the Southern District of Alabama, certain materialmen, on t”
- countableA brief writing of any kind, especially a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.
“a libel of forsaking [divorcement]”
- transitiveTo defame (someone), especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.
“He libelled her when he published that.”
“But vvhat ſo pure, vvhich envious tongues vvill ſpare? / Some vvicked vvits have libell'd all the fair.”
- transitiveTo proceed against (goods, a ship, etc.) by filing a legal claim.
Formslibels(plural) · libels(present, singular, third-person) · libeling(US, participle, present) · libelling(UK, participle, present) · libeled(US, participle, past) · libeled(US, past) · libelled(UK, participle, past) · libelled(UK, past)