I. ˈskand ə l, -aan- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin scandalum stumbling block, offense, from Greek skandalon — more at scan
1.
a.
(1) : discredit brought upon religion by unseemly conduct in a religious person
(2) : offense, doubt, or bewilderment occasioned to a person's religious feelings by another's lapse in ethics or religion
abstained from decorating their private chapels … lest scandal should be given to weaker brethren — T.B.Macaulay
(3) : conduct the causes or encourages a lapse of faith or of religious obedience in another
his bad example is a constant scandal to all who knew him in the days of his fidelity — D.J.Corrigan
b. : something that prevents the reception of religious or other faith or serves as justification for a lapse from faith or morals : offense
one scandal of Christendom, the great schism, had indeed been overcome — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
the scandal of the apparent contradiction of reason with itself — Edward Caird
2.
a. : loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety
a soldier should not bring scandal upon the uniform
b. archaic : a disgraceful usually baseless accusation or imputation
an improbable scandal flung upon the nation by a few bigoted … scribblers — Jonathan Swift
3.
a. : a circumstance or action that offends propriety or established moral conceptions or disgraces those associated with or involved in it
the man's life is an open scandal — Willa Cather
an early history of scandal and mismanagement — American Guide Series: New York City
b. : a person whose conduct offends propriety or morality
under no temptation to nominate men who will be either drones or scandals — Spectator
4. : gossip or utterance of gossip that emphasizes true or false details damaging to another's reputation
the political harridans … would attack every possible leader with scandal and abuse and falsehood — H.G.Wells
5. : anger, indignation, chagrin, bewilderment, or incredulity brought about by a flagrant violation of morality, propriety, or religious opinion
to the scandal and grief of her sisters, made up her mind not to go to church any more — Margaret Deland
his marriage would give the gravest scandal to millions — Manchester Guardian Weekly
6. : something alleged in an equity pleading that is impertinent and is reproachful to a person or derogates from the dignity of the court or is contrary to good manners : an immaterial allegation that is slanderous
Synonyms: see detraction
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. obsolete : to bring reproach or scandal upon : disgrace
2. chiefly dialect : to spread scandal concerning : defame , slander