backbite

See also: back-bite

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English bakbiten, bacbiten, equivalent to back- + bite. Cognate with Icelandic bakbíta (to backbite, vilify).

Verb

backbite (third-person singular simple present backbites, present participle backbiting, simple past backbit, past participle backbitten)

  1. To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
  2. (informal) To attack from behind or when out of earshot with spiteful or defamatory remarks.
  3. To speak badly of an absent individual.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

backbite (plural backbites)

  1. One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter.

Anagrams

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