libel

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English libel, from Old French libelle, from Latin libellus (“petition”, literally “booklet”). Doublet of libelle. === Pronunciation === enPR: līʹbəl, IPA(key): /ˈlaɪbəl/ Rhymes: -aɪbəl === Noun === libel (countable and uncountable, plural libels) (countable) A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation. (uncountable) The act or tort of displaying such a statement publicly. (countable) Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a satire. (law, countable) A written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of their cause of action, and of the relief they seek. 1873, United States Supreme Court, The Rio Grande, 86 U.S. 178,179 These provisions of law being in force, the steamer Rio Grande, owned, as was alleged, by persons in Mexico, being in the port of Mobile, in the Southern District of Alabama, certain materialmen, on the 26th of November, 1867, filed separate libels against her in the district court for the said district. (countable) A brief writing of any kind, especially a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc. ==== Usage notes ==== In common usage, the noun and verb are particularly used where the defamatory writing meets the legal definition of libel in a particular jurisdiction. ==== Hypernyms ==== ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Coordinate terms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === libel (third-person singular simple present libels, present participle (US) libeling or (UK) libelling, simple past and past participle (US) libeled or (UK) libelled) (transitive, law) To defame (someone), especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:defame To proceed against (goods, a ship, etc.) by filing a legal claim. ==== Hypernyms ==== ==== Coordinate terms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === defamation === Anagrams === Belli, I'll be, Ibell, Liebl == Aragonese == === Noun === libel m superseded spelling of livel == Dutch == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /liˈbɛl/ Hyphenation: li‧bel Rhymes: -ɛl === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from Latin libella or libellula. ==== Noun ==== libel f (plural libellen, diminutive libelletje n) dragonfly, insect of the infraorder Anisoptera dragonfly or damselfly, insect of the order Odonata ===== Alternative forms ===== libelle ===== Hyponyms ===== (insect of the order Odonata): beekjuffer, breedscheenjuffer, pantserjuffer, waterjuffer, winterjuffer ===== Descendants ===== → Lokono: bibiri === Etymology 2 === From Latin libellus, diminutive of liber (“book”). ==== Noun ==== libel n (plural libellen, diminutive libelletje n) booklet, notably a libel (defamatory writing) ===== Synonyms ===== schotschrift smaadschrift === Etymology 3 === Borrowed from Latin libella. ==== Noun ==== libel f (plural libellen, diminutive libelletje n) a vial of a level === References === M. J. Koenen & J. Endepols, Verklarend Handwoordenboek der Nederlandse Taal (tevens Vreemde-woordentolk), Groningen, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1969 (26th edition) [Dutch dictionary in Dutch] == Middle English == === Alternative forms === lybel === Etymology === Ultimately from Latin libellus (“little book”). === Noun === libel Any short and formal written text (law) A litigant's statement of complaint, or list of charges Any written formal complaint, particularly in marital conflicts A treatise; a division of a larger work. === Notes ===