I. ˈskan-d ə l noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense, from Greek skandalon trap, stumbling block, offense; akin to Latin scandere to climb
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : discredit brought upon religion by unseemly conduct in a religious person
b. : conduct that causes or encourages a lapse of faith or of religious obedience in another
2. : loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety : disgrace
3.
a. : a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with it
b. : a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality
a scandal to the profession
4. : malicious or defamatory gossip
5. : indignation, chagrin, or bewilderment brought about by a flagrant violation of morality, propriety, or religious opinion
Synonyms: see offense
II. transitive verb
Date: 1592
1. obsolete : disgrace
2. chiefly dialect : defame , slander