LIBEL

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~lus, diminutive of liber book Date: 14th century 1. a written statement in which a plaintiff in certain courts sets forth the cause of action or the relief sought, a handbill especially attacking or defaming someone, 2. a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression, b. a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt, defamation of a person by written or representational means, the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures, the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a ~, II. verb (-beled or -belled; -beling or ~ling) Date: 1588 intransitive verb to make ~ous statements, transitive verb to make or publish a ~ against, ~er noun ~ist noun