LIBEL (libelled, libelling)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: libelled    , libelling   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does libel mean? 

• LIBEL (noun)
  The noun LIBEL has 2 senses:

1. a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person

2. the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defamation) and any relief he seeks

  Familiarity information: LIBEL used as a noun is rare.

• LIBEL (verb)
  The verb LIBEL has 1 sense:

1. print slanderous statements against

  Familiarity information: LIBEL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIBEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("libel" is a kind of...):

calumniation; calumny; defamation; hatchet job; obloquy; traducement (a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions)

Domain category:

civil wrong; tort ((law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought)

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

libel (print slanderous statements against)

libellous; libelous ((used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defamation) and any relief he seeks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("libel" is a kind of...):

complaint ((civil law) the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim for relief is based)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

• LIBEL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they libel    ... he / she / it libels   
Past simple: libeled    / libelled   
Past participle: libeled    / libelled   
-ing form: libeling    / libelling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Print slanderous statements against

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The newspaper was accused of libeling him

Hypernyms (to "libel" is one way to...):

asperse; besmirch; calumniate; defame; denigrate; slander; smear; smirch; sully (charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

libel (a false and malicious publication printed for the purpose of defaming a living person)

libeler (one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel)

 Context examples 

"If you mean libel, I'd say so, and not talk about labels, as if Papa was a pickle bottle," advised Jo, laughing.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Yet, so far have you been from answering my expectation in any of your letters; that on the contrary you are loading our carrier every week with libels, and keys, and reflections, and memoirs, and second parts; wherein I see myself accused of reflecting upon great state folk; of degrading human nature (for so they have still the confidence to style it), and of abusing the female sex.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Hence it follows of necessity, that vast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, pimping, flattering, suborning, forswearing, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, scribbling, star-gazing, poisoning, whoring, canting, libelling, freethinking, and the like occupations: every one of which terms I was at much pains to make him understand.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It's libel. I'm too poor.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)