- backbiting
- backbiting c.1200, bacbitunge, from BACK (Cf. back) (adj. or n.) + biting. Related: back-bite (v.), early 14c.; back-biter (c.1200).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
backbiting
Look at other dictionaries:
Backbiting — Back bit ing, n. Secret slander; detraction. [1913 Webster] Backbiting, and bearing of false witness. Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
backbiting — index denunciation, diatribe Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
backbiting — n *detraction, slander, scandal, calumny Analogous words: aspersion, *animadversion, reflection, stricture: *abuse, invective, obloquy, vituperation: vilifying or vilification, defaming or defamation (see corresponding verbs at MALIGN) Antonyms:… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
backbiting — [n] hateful talk abuse, aspersion, backstabbing*, belittlement, calumniation, calumny, cattiness, defamation, denigration, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, gossip, invective, lie, malice, obloquy, scandal, slander, spite, spitefulness,… … New thesaurus
backbiting — ► NOUN ▪ malicious talk about an absent person … English terms dictionary
backbiting — [[t]bæ̱kbaɪtɪŋ[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) If you accuse someone of backbiting, you mean that they say unpleasant or unkind things about someone who is not present, especially in order to stop them doing well at work. Corporate backbiting is… … English dictionary
backbiting — 1. noun The action of slandering a person without that persons knowledge. No custummable bakbytyng God.... 2. adjective A person who slanders or speaks badly of a person without that persons knowledge. Backbiting talk that flattering blabs know… … Wiktionary
backbiting — back|bit|ing [ˈbækbaıtıŋ] n [U] unpleasant or cruel talk about someone who is not present ▪ All this backbiting is destroying company morale … Dictionary of contemporary English
backbiting — noun (U) unpleasant or cruel talk about someone who is not present: All this backbiting is destroying company morale. backbiter noun (C) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
backbiting — noun the backbiting between Democrats and Republicans has become tiresome Syn: malicious talk, spiteful talk, slander, libel, defamation, abuse, character assassination, disparagement, denigration, vilification, vituperation, calumny; slurs,… … Thesaurus of popular words
