▪ I. libel, n.
(ˈlaɪbəl)
Forms: 4–8 libell, 5 libelle, 5–7 lybell(e, 6–7 lybel, (6 Sc. libal), 3– libel.
[a. OF. libel masc., libelle fem. (mod.F. libelle), ad. L. libellus, dim. of liber book. Cf. Sp. libelo, Pg., It. libello, used in legal senses.]
† 1. A little book; a short treatise or writing.
| 1382 Wyclif Num. v. 23 And the preest shal wryte in a libel [1388 litil book] thes cursid thingis. 1436 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 157 Here beginneth the prologe of the processe of the Libelle of Englyshe Polycye. 1494 Fabyan Chron. v. cxxiii. 102 As before is shewyd in the .C. and .xiii. Chapitre of this libell. 1529 More Dyaloge iii. Wks. 234/1 Y{supt} no man should..translate..by way of boke, lybel, or tretice. 1530 Lyndesay Test. Papyngo 20 Quintyng, Mersar, Rowle, Henderson, hay, & holland, Thocht thay be ded, yar libells bene leuand. 1576 A. Fleming Pref. to Caius' Dogs in Arb. Garner III. 228 Caius spared no study..which seemed..requisite to the performance of this little libel. a 1709 Atkyns Parl. & Pol. Tracts (1734) 86 Certain Books, which he termed Codicello's; which in our Dialect, is the same with Libels or Little Books. 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 69 His English Libels were these, viz. A Merry Jest [etc.]. |
† b. A written paper. Sometimes = label n.1, for which it may have been substituted as etymologically more intelligible. Obs.
| 1603 North's Plutarch (1612) 1183 With his testament there were three litle libels or codicils. 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. ii. §136. 60 That [the seal] was so fixed againe to the libell [ed. 1657 label, orig. AF. (ed. 1601) label] of the deed. 1682 Keigwin Mt. Calvary (1826) clxxxix, This lybell was fastened on y⊇ cross fast..And over the head of Christ put. 1689 Moyle Sea Chyrurg. i. 16 With every Medicament its Lybel upon it. |
2. A formal document, a written declaration or statement. Obs. exc. Hist. (as occasional rendering of L. libellus), and Law (see 3).
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10234 Hii sende him libel, & esste ek articles, þat nere noȝt to graunti wel. 1382 Wyclif Matt. v. 31 Who euere shal leeue his wyf, ȝeue he to hir a libel, that is, a litil boke of forsakyng [1388 a libel of forsakyng]. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 161 A cownsayle was kepede..where a libelle porrecte to Constancius. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccxlv. [ccxlii.] 754 The knyght toke the kyng a lybell, the whiche was red; therin was conteyned that if there was nother knight..that wolde say that kyng Henry was not rightfull kyng, he was there redy to fyght with him. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 16/2 The Arrians returning from their Arrianisme, offered vp and exhibited vnto the bishops of Rome their libels of repentance. 1565 Harding Confut. Jewel's Apol. iv. 161 b, Moses permitted a libell of diuorce. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. x. 366 Quha tuik al priuat libalis and accusatiounis, and causet exeme thame. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 15 With their image did Augustus sign all his Grants, Libels, and Epistles. 1608 Willet Hexapla Exod. 750 The libels or billes of dowrie. 1652 Needham Selden's Mare Cl. 294 A Libel, or Bill of Complaint. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxviii. III. 75 A formal reply to the petition or libel of Symmachus. |
3. a. Civil Law. The writing or document of the plaintiff containing his allegations and instituting a suit. b. Eccl. Law. The first plea, or the plaintiff's written declaration or charges, in a cause. c. Sc. Law. The form of complaint or ground of the charge on which either a civil or criminal prosecution takes place.
| 1340 Ayenb. 40 Þe ualse notaryes..ualseþ þe celes makeþ þe kueade libelles and to uele oþre ualshedes. c 1386 Chaucer Friar's T. 297 May I nat axe a libel, sir Somnour, And answere there, by my procutour, To swich thing as men wol opposen me? c 1410 Love Bonavent. Mirr. xviii. (1510) F v b, He that was domysman made the lybelle in theyre cause. c 1440 Jacob's Well 131 A fals notarye, þat makyth false letterys, libellys, or false actys. 1535 Coverdale Job xxxi. 35 Let him that is my contrary party, sue me with a lybell. 1548 Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI, c. 13 §14 The same partie..shall bringe and deliver..the verie true copie of the libell dependinge in the ecclesiasticall Courte. 1592 Sc. Acts Jas. VI §73 All criminall libellis sall contene that the personis complenit on ar airt and pairt of þe cryme libellit. 1601–2 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 68 You lay and alleage in your libell as the ground of your action things farre distant in nature. 1681 Act in Lond. Gaz. No. 1648/4 Providing always that the Libel, whereupon the foresaid Sentence proceeded be special. 1708 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. ii. viii. (1737) 76 First [in Eccl. causes] goes forth a Citation, then a Libel, and Answer. 1721 Wodrow Hist. Ch. Scot. I. 51 Upwards of thirty different Libels were formed against him, for alledged Injuries, Oppressions, and the like. 1800 A. Carlyle Autobiog. 319 Cuming, Webster, and Hyndman..were the committee who drew up the libel. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xii, Surely the pursuer is bound to understand his own libel. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. xi. 568 In Causes not criminal and not summary, the first plea is the complainants libel which corresponds to the declaration at common law. 1876 Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. ii. i. 89 The libel having been served on the accused, he compeared. |
† d. Used jocularly for: The collective body (of lawyers). Obs. rare—1.
| 1515–20 Vox Populi 722 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 293 With iij or iiij greate clothiars, And the hole lybell of lawyars. |
† 4. A leaflet, bill, or pamphlet posted up or publicly circulated; spec. one assailing or defaming the character of some person (in early use more fully, famous libel = Law Latin libellus famosus).
| 1521 Bp. Longland in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. I. 253 Suche famous lybells and bills as be sett uppe in night tymes upon Chirche doores. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 1240/1 The bishops..durst not openlie publish the excommunication of the king, but secretlie cast libels about the high waies, which gaue notice thereof. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, i. i. 33 Plots haue I laide..By drunken Prophesies, Libels, and Dreames, To set my Brother Clarence and the King In deadly hate. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII 94 Who when he turned his backe (more like a Pedant then an Ambassadour) dispersed a bitter Libell, in Latine Verse, against the King. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. §86 Cheap senseless libels were scattered about the city,..traducing some, and proscribing others. 1689–90 Wood Life 12 Mar., Two malitious fellowes were found sticking up a libell reflecting on the fast. 1727 Swift Further Acc. E. Curll Wks. 1755 III. i. 155 Singeing a pig with a new purchased libel. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. xi. (1869) I. 218 He scattered libels through their camp. |
5. Law. Any published statement damaging to the reputation of a person. In wider sense, any writing of a treasonable, seditious, or immoral kind. Also, the act or crime of publishing such a statement or writing.
| a 1631 Donne Serm. ix. 87 And by the way, that which it may sometimes concerne us to know, yet it may be a Libell to publish it [surplusage]. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 125 With regard to libels in general, there are..two remedies; one by indictment and another by action. 1810 Bentham Packing (1821) 2 In point of actual law, a libel is any paper in which he, who to the will adds the power of punishing for it, sees any thing that he does not like. 1840 Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life (1879) II. i. 12 Condemned to imprisonment for publishing seditious libels. 1862 Trollope Orley F. xix. (ed. 4) 134 It may be very difficult to obtain evidence of a libel. 1888 Pall Mall G. 24 Nov. 4/1 The judge answered..that it was clearly possible to publish a libel for the public good. |
b. In popular use: Any false and defamatory statement in conversation or otherwise. transf., applied to a portrait that does the sitter injustice, or to a thing or circumstance that tends to bring undeserved ill repute on a person, a country, etc.
| 1618 Wither Motto Introd. Wks. (1633) 504 If any should confesse Those sinnes in publike, which his soul oppresse; Some guilty fellow (moov'd thereat) would take it Unto himselfe; and so, a Libell make it. 1650 Fuller Pisgah i. vii. 18 The false report of the spies was in some respect but a libell of this land. 1667 Causes Decay Chr. Piety i. 10 Are we reproacht for the name of Christ, that Ignominy serves but to advance our future Glory; every such Libel here, becomes Panegyrick there. 1673–4 Duke of Lauderdale in L. Papers (1885) III. xix. 27 Thos addresses..have proved rether leik libells than treuth. 1693 Humours Town 132 They [Men] are living Libels [as to Women's virtue]. 1694 Dryden To Sir G. Kneller 163 Good heav'n! that sots and knaves should be so vain, To wish their vile resemblance may remain! And stand recorded, at their own request, To future days, a libel or a jest! 1725 Young Love Fame i. 160 A rich knave's a libel on our laws. 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. i. i, His whole conversation is a perpetual libel on all his acquaintance. 1781 Cowper Conv. 450 Or make the parrot's mimicry his choice, That odious libel on a human voice. 1850 Lyell 2nd Visit U.S. II. 163 The tale of suffering..was not authentic... Such libels are hailed with pleasure by the Perpetualists as irritating the feeling of that class of slave-owners who [etc.]. |
6. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 5) libel-spawning adj., (sense 3) libel summons.
Libel Act, the title of the Act 32 Geo. 3. c. 60, as shortened by Act of Parliament in 1896 (59 & 60 Vict. c. xiv).
| 1682 Tate Abs. & Achit. ii. 520 Parasites and libel-spawning imps. 1870 J. K. Hunter Life Stud. xlvii. 289, I saw the auld chap go direct to the Fiscal's office, and next day I had a libel summons chargin' me wi' every conceivable way of killing game on my neighbour's grun'. |
▪ II. libel, v.
(ˈlaɪbəl)
[f. libel n.; OF. libeller, med.L. libellāre existed in certain senses.]
† 1. intr. To make libellous accusations or statements; to spread defamation. Const. against, on; by, of (Sc.). Obs.
| 1570 Satir. Poems Reform. xii. 157 Suppois ȝe crak, ȝe ly abak, And lybellis be the Law. 1583 Leg. Bp. St. Androis 1008 What suld I lyble of this lowne? Not all the paper of this towne..May had the half that he hes done. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iv. iv. 17 What's this but Libelling against the Senate? 1596 Nashe Saffron Walden 80 He is verie seditious and mutinous in conuersation..libelling most execrably and inhumanely on Iacke of the Falcon. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. iii. ii, Nor shall you need to libell 'gainst the Prelates. 1637 Laud Sp. Star-Chamber 14 June 9 Hee Libels against the King and the State. |
2. trans. To defame or discredit by the circulation of libellous statements; to accuse falsely and maliciously; spec. in Law, to publish a libel against.
| 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. vii, Thou shalt libell, and I'le cudgell the Rascall. 1654 H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 4 With a spirit which equally disdaines to libel or to flatter him. 1709 Pope Jan. & May 44 But what so pure, which envious tongues will spare? Some wicked wits have libell'd all the fair. 1732 Swift Beasts' Confess. to Priest 202, I would accuse him [fabling æsop] to his face For libeling the four-foot race. 1803 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1837) II. 492 Those who have deserted this service have been allowed to libel and defame his character. 1884 Manch. Exam. 7 Oct. 5/1 The Grub-street hacks, who in former times lived by libelling political personages. |
| fig. a 1716 South Serm. (1744) II. 158 It..misrepresents and libels God to the Conscience. a 1862 Buckle Civiliz. (1869) III. v. 480 Beware of libelling what you profess to defend. |
3. Eccl. and Sc. Law. To institute a suit against (a person) by means of a libel; also, to specify in a libel.
| 1582–8 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 220 Thai shall haue alswa the King's licence..to reduce thair foirfaultors, upoun sick causes and considerations as they may libell. 1711 Countrey-Man's Let. to Curat 48 When he was Lybell'd, the Missal and Breviary had not receiv'd the Rasures before spoken of. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 35 In all capital Crimes, the Facts are to be libelled, with the Hour, Day, Month..and Place in which the Fact happened. 1753 S. Fraser in Scots Mag. Apr. 179/1 The facts..are not sufficient to infer the crime libelled. 1754 Erskine Princ. Sc. Law (1809) 457 If these adminicles afford sufficient conviction, that the deed libelled did once exist. 1868 Act 31 & 32 Vict. c. 101 §59 It shall be lawful to libel and conclude and decern for General Adjudication without such Alternative. |
b. To bring suit in admiralty against (a vessel, cargo, or its owner).
| 1805 East's Reports V. 317 The vessel and her cargo have been libelled in the Court of Admiralty for condemnation. 1811 J. Adams Wks. (1854) IX. 628 Nickerson was libelled in the Special Court of Vice-Admiralty by Jonathan Sewall. 1829 Marryat F. Mildmay xxi, The True-blooded Yankee was libelled in the Vice-Admiralty Court at Cape Town. 1894 Daily News 20 Sept. 6/5 The owners of the steamer instructed a firm of solicitors at Halifax to ‘libel’ the vessel for 10,000 dollars. |
Hence ˈlibelled ppl. a., ˈlibelling vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1574 Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1832) 33 Anent þe libellit precept rasit at þe instance of maister Robert Herbertsoun. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 368/2 False and infamous railings and libellings. 1641 Milton Animadv. Wks. 1738 I. 80 The practices..of libelling Separatists. 1668 Clarendon Contempl. Ps. Tracts (1727) 668 A libelling look hath begotten very tragical mischiefs. 1697 Dryden Virgil (1721) I. Life 29 Marc Antony..vex'd him with a great many Libelling Letters, in which he reproaches him with the Baseness of his Parentage. 1727 Swift Further Acc. E. Curll Wks. 1755 III. i. 159 That towards the libelling of the said Pope there be a sum employed not exceeding six pounds sixteen shillings and ninepence. 1794 Mathias Purs. Lit. (1798) 385 His pictur'd person and his libel'd shape. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. xi. 245 The art of libelling is no inefficient prelude to revolutionary measures. |