libelous en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈlaɪ.bəl.əs/ (UK)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English libel Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos? Old Latin -ōssus Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English libelous From libel + -ous.
Meanings
-
(US) Defamatory, libeling, referring to something that causes harm to someone's reputation especially with malice or disregard.
The accusation was libelous, full of falsehoods, spite and malice.
-
(US) Meeting the legal standards for libel.
The court found the statement was not libelous because it was true.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| libellous | UK, alternative | lexicographic | |
| more libelous | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most libelous | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (16)
de verleumderisch (meeting the legal standards for libel) · fr calomnieux (defamatory, libeling) · it diffamatorio (defamatory, libeling) · bg клеветнически (defamatory, libeling) · ru клеветни́ческий (meeting the legal standards for libel) · fr diffamatoire (meeting the legal standards for libel) · es difamatorio (defamatory, libeling) · fr diffamatoire (defamatory, libeling) · fi herjaava (meeting the legal standards for libel) · ru клеветни́ческий (defamatory, libeling) · nl lasterlijk (defamatory, libeling) · pl oszczerczy (defamatory, libeling) · fi loukkaava (defamatory, libeling) · fi kunniaa loukkaava (meeting the legal standards for libel) · es calumnioso (defamatory, libeling) · de verleumderisch (defamatory, libeling)