▪ I. backbite, v.
(ˈbækbaɪt)
Forms: 2–5 bac-, bakbite, 4–6 bakbyte, 5–6 bag-, bakke-, bacbyte, backbyte, 6–7 backebite, 4– backbite. pa. tense 4 bac-, bakbate; 4 bacbitide, bakbited, 5 bacbyted. pa. pple. 5–6 bakbyttyn, -byten, 7– backbitten; 4–6 bacbyted, 6 bak-, backe-, 6–7 backbited.
[f. back adv. + bite v., i.e. to bite one on, or behind, his back.]
To detract from the character of, to slander, traduce, speak ill of: a. a person absent.
| c 1175 [see backbiting vbl. n.] a 1300 E.E. Psalter xxxviii. 20 Þat yheldes ivels for godes bac-bate [Vulg. detrahebant] me. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 411 Is none so good, that he ne passeth Betwene his teeth and is backbited. 1496 Dives & Paup. (W. de W.) vii. ii. 278/2 Mary the syster of Moses backbyted her brother. a 1520 Myrr. Our Ladye Introd. 47 Why hast thou bakbyten my handemayde adjugynge hir to be prowde? 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xvii. ix. 91 With contumelious tearmes traduced and back-bitten. a 1791 Wesley Husb. & Wives iii. 7 Wks. 1811 IX. 67 To backbite an enemy is sin; how much more to back-bite one's own yoke-fellow. 1851 Helps Comp. Solit. iii. (1874) 31 People will backbite one another to any extent rather than not be amused. |
† b. an institution, action, character, etc. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif James iv. 11 He that bakbitith his brother bakbitith the lawe. 1596 Spenser F.Q. i. iv. 32 The verse of famous poets witt He does backebite. 1602 Dekker Satirom. Wks. 1873 I. 209 Doe not back-bite her beauties. |
c. absolutely or intr.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ii. 80 To bakbite and to bosten and bere fals witnesse. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, v. i. 36 Vse his men well Dauy, for they are arrant knaues, and will backe-bite. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. III. 613 Backbite not, lest thou be backbitten. |
▪ II. † backbite, n. Obs.
[f. prec.]
Backbiting.
| 1598 Stow Survey (Strype 1754) I. iii. vi. 593/2 A stay to weake, a staff to poor, Without Backbite or pride. |