libel English · revision 796

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlaɪbəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|libel|t=written declaration]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|libel]], ''libelle'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la|libellus|t=little book, pamphlet; petition, written accusation]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) a diminutive of ''liber'' “book” (see [[library]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A formal written statement or document (1297 in the OED; about 1300 in Barnhart and Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In civil and ecclesiastical law a libel was the plaintiff's written statement of charges (1340).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The word also meant a little book (1382)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) and a handbill or pamphlet publicly circulated, especially one attacking someone's character (1521).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) From this came the modern sense, a published false statement damaging to a person's reputation, which dates from the early 17th century.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986) In law ''libel'', which is written or published, contrasts with ''[[slander]]'', which is spoken.^(Cresswell 2021)^(RHWU) The verb meant first to set out a plaintiff's case (mid-15th century),^(Etymonline) then to make defamatory statements (1570) and to defame (1601).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – a formal written declaration.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1340 – a plaintiff's statement of charges.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1382 – a little book.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1521 – a defamatory pamphlet.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1570 – verb, to defame.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1610s – a false, defamatory statement.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1619 – ''libellous''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' A false statement published in writing, print, pictures or any form other than speech that damages a person's reputation; the act or crime of publishing it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Anything that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' The written claims of a plaintiff in an [[admiralty]] or [[ecclesiastical]] court.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To publish a libel against; to [[defame]] in writing or pictures.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' To bring suit against a ship or cargo in an admiralty court.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[libeler]]

+ * [[libelist]]

+ * [[libelous]]

+ * [[libelant]]

+ * [[libelee]]

+ * [[unlibelled]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[library]]

+ * [[libretto]]

+ * [[slander]]

+ * [[defamation]]

+ * [[label]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}