backbite
1Backbite — Back bite , v. i. To censure or revile the absent. [1913 Webster] They are arrant knaves, and will backbite. Shak. [1913 Webster] …
2Backbite — Back bite , v. t. [2d back, n. + bite.] To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or spitefully (an absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one absent). Spenser. [1913 Webster] …
3backbite — [bak′bīt΄] vt., vi. backbit [bak′bit΄] backbitten [bak′bit΄ n] or backbit, backbiting [ME bakbiten: see BACK1 & BITE] to speak maliciously about (an absent person); slander backbiter [bak′bīt΄ər] n …
4backbite — verb ( bit; bitten; biting) Date: 12th century transitive verb to say mean or spiteful things about (as one not present) intransitive verb to backbite a person • backbiter noun …
5backbite — backbiter, n. /bak buyt /, v., backbit, backbitten or (Informal) backbit; backbiting. v.t. 1. to attack the character or reputation of (a person who is not present). v.i. 2. to speak unfavorably or slanderously of a person who is not present.… …
6backbite — 1. verb a) To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone. b) To attack from behind or when out of earshot. 2. noun One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter …
7Backbite — In Ps. 15:3, the rendering of a word which means to run about tattling, calumniating; in Prov. 25:23, secret talebearing or slandering; in Rom. 1:30 and 2 Cor. 12:20, evil speaking, maliciously defaming the absent …
8backbite — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. attack, revile. See detraction. II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) v. slander, malign, *backstab, defame, vilify, gossip, smear, *badmouth, *dump on, *tell tales out of school. III (Roget s Thesaurus II)… …
9backbite — v. a. Pol. S. 157. pret. ‘backbate.’ Ps. xxxvii. 21 …
10backbite — back·bite || bækbaɪt v. slander one who is not present, gossip, disparage, libel …
