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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [libel]
LI'BEL, n. [L. libellus, a little book, from liber, a book, from the sense of bark, and this from stripping separating. Hence liber, a book, and liber, free, are the same word.] 1. A defamatory writing, L. libellus, famosus. Hence, the epithet being omitted, libel expresses the same thing. Any book, pamphlet, writing or picture, containing representations, maliciously made or published, tending to bring a person into contempt, or expose him to public hatred and derision. The communication of such defamatory writing to a single person, is considered in law a publication. It is immaterial with respect to the essence of a libel, whether the matter of it is true or false, since the provocation and not the falsity is the thing to be punished criminally. But in a civil action, a libel must appear to be false, as well as scandalous.In a more extensive sense, any blasphemous, treasonable or immoral writing or picture made public, is a libel, and punishable by law.2. In the civil law, and in courts of admiralty, a declaration or charge in writing exhibited in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for violating the laws of trade or of revenue.LI'BEL, v.t. 1. To defame or expose to public hatred and contempt by a writing or picture; to lampoon.Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair.2. To exhibit a charge against any thing in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for a violation of the laws of trade or revenue.LI'BEL, v.i. To spread defamation, written or printed; with against. He libels against the peers of the realm. [Not now in use.]
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [libel]
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LI'BEL, n. [L. libellus, a little book, from liber, a book, from the sense of bark, and this from stripping separating. Hence liber, a book, and liber, free, are the same word.] 1. A defamatory writing, L. libellus, famosus. Hence, the epithet being omitted, libel expresses the same thing. Any book, pamphlet, writing or picture, containing representations, maliciously made or published, tending to bring a person into contempt, or expose him to public hatred and derision. The communication of such defamatory writing to a single person, is considered in law a publication. It is immaterial with respect to the essence of a libel, whether the matter of it is true or false, since the provocation and not the falsity is the thing to be punished criminally. But in a civil action, a libel must appear to be false, as well as scandalous.In a more extensive sense, any blasphemous, treasonable or immoral writing or picture made public, is a libel, and punishable by law.2. In the civil law, and in courts of admiralty, a declaration or charge in writing exhibited in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for violating the laws of trade or of revenue.LI'BEL, v.t. 1. To defame or expose to public hatred and contempt by a writing or picture; to lampoon.Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair.2. To exhibit a charge against any thing in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for a violation of the laws of trade or revenue.LI'BEL, v.i. To spread defamation, written or printed; with against. He libels against the peers of the realm. [Not now in use.] |
LI'BEL, n. [L. libellus, a little book, from liber, a book, from the sense of bark, and this from stripping, separating. Hence liber, a book, and liber, free, are the same word. Class Lb, No. 21, 27, 30, 31.]- A defamatory writing, L. libellus famosus. Hence, the epithet being omitted, libel expresses the same thing. Any book, pamphlet, writing or picture, containing representations, maliciously made or published, tending to bring a person into contempt, or expose him to public hatred and derision. The communication of such defamatory writing to a single person, is considered in law a publication. It is immaterial with respect to the essence of a libel, whether the matter of it is true or false, since the provocation and not the falsity is the thing to be punished criminally. But
in a civil action, a libel must appear to be false, as well as scandalous. – Blackstone.
In a more extensive sense, any blasphemous, treasonable or immoral writing or picture made public, is a libel, and punishable by law.
- In the civil law, and in courts of admiralty, a declaration or charge in writing exhibited in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for violating the laws of trade or of revenue.
LI'BEL, v.i.To spread defamation, written or printed; with against. He libels against the peers of the realm. [Not now in use.]
LI'BEL, v.t.- To defame or expose to public hatred and contempt by a writing or picture; to lampoon.
Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair. – Pope.
- To exhibit a charge against any thing in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for a violation of the laws of trade or revenue.
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Li"bel
- A brief writing of any kind, esp. a
declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc.
- To defame, or expose to
public hatred, contempt, or ridicule, by a writing, picture, sign,
etc.] to lampoon.
- To spread defamation, written or printed; -- with
against.
- Any defamatory writing; a lampoon; a
satire.
- To proceed against by filing
a libel, particularly against a ship or goods.
- A malicious publication
expressed either in print or in writing, or by pictures, effigies, or
other signs, tending to expose another to public hatred, contempt, or
ridicule. Such publication is indictable at common law.
- The crime of issuing a
malicious defamatory publication.
- A
written declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of
action, and of the relief he seeks.
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| 1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
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Libel LI'BEL, noun [Latin libellus, a little book, from liber, a book, from the sense of bark, and this from stripping separating. Hence liber, a book, and liber, free, are the same word.] 1. A defamatory writing, Latin libellus, famosus. Hence, the epithet being omitted, libel expresses the same thing. Any book, pamphlet, writing or picture, containing representations, maliciously made or published, tending to bring a person into contempt, or expose him to public hatred and derision. The communication of such defamatory writing to a single person, is considered in law a publication. It is immaterial with respect to the essence of a libel whether the matter of it is true or false, since the provocation and not the falsity is the thing to be punished criminally. But in a civil action, a libel must appear to be false, as well as scandalous. In a more extensive sense, any blasphemous, treasonable or immoral writing or picture made public, is a libel and punishable by law. 2. In the civil law, and in courts of admiralty, a declaration or charge in writing exhibited in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for violating the laws of trade or of revenue. LI'BEL, verb transitive 1. To defame or expose to public hatred and contempt by a writing or picture; to lampoon. Some wicked wits have libeled all the fair. 2. To exhibit a charge against any thing in court, particularly against a ship or goods, for a violation of the laws of trade or revenue. LI'BEL, verb intransitive To spread defamation, written or printed; with against. He libels against the peers of the realm. [Not now in use.] |
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| Hard-cover Edition |
333 |
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519 |
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| Compact Edition |
321 |
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224 |
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| CD-ROM |
274 |
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185 |
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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