n. [ OE. sclandere, OF. esclandre, esclandle, escandre, F. esclandre, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a snare, stumbling block, offense, scandal; probably originally, the spring of a trap, and akin to Skr. skand to spring, leap. See Scan, and cf. Scandal. ] 1. A false tale or report maliciously uttered, tending to injure the reputation of another; the malicious utterance of defamatory reports; the dissemination of malicious tales or suggestions to the injury of another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whether we speak evil of a man to his face or behind his back; the former way, indeed, seems to be the most generous, but yet is a great fault, and that which we call “reviling;” the latter is more mean and base, and that which we properly call “slander”, or “Backbiting.” Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ We ] make the careful magistrate
The mark of slander. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disgrace; reproach; dishonor; opprobrium. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou slander of thy mother's heavy womb. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under Defamation. Burril. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Slandered p. pr. & vb. n. Slandering. ] 1. To defame; to injure by maliciously uttering a false report; to tarnish or impair the reputation of by false tales maliciously told or propagated; to calumniate. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, do not slander him, for he is kind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring discredit or shame upon by one's acts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tax not so bad a voice
To slander music any more than once. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To asperse; defame; calumniate; vilify; malign; belie; scandalize; reproach. See Asperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who slanders; a defamer; a calumniator. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Given or disposed to slander; uttering slander. “Slanderous tongue.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Embodying or containing slander; calumnious; as, slanderous words, speeches, or reports. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Slan"der*ous*ly, adv. -- Slan"der*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]