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Backbite

noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    One who engages in backbiting; a backbiter.
Verb
  1. 1
    To make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.

    "They beguiled the time by backbiting and intriguing against each other in a foolish kind of way."

  2. 2
    say mean things wordnet
  3. 3
    To attack from behind or when out of earshot with spiteful or defamatory remarks. informal
  4. 4
    To speak badly of an absent individual.

Etymology

Etymology 1

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

Etymology 2

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

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