c. 1300, "formal written statement," especially, in civil law, "plaintiff's statement of charges" (mid-14c.); from Old French libelle (fem.) "small book; (legal) charge, claim; writ; written report" (13c.), from Latin libellus "a little book, pamphlet; petition, written accusation, complaint," diminutive of liber "book" (see library). Broader sense of "any published or written statement likely to harm a person's reputation" is first attested 1630s.
libel (v.)
mid-15c., "make an initial statement setting out a plaintiff's case" (modern sense from 1560s), from libel (n.), q.v. for sense development. Related: Libeled; libelled; libeling; libelling.
双语例句
1. Canadian libel law is based on English common law.
加拿大的诽谤法是以英国的习惯法为基础的。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She had a libel action against the magazine pending.
她对该杂志提起的诽谤诉讼尚未判决。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Mr Warren sued him for libel over the remarks.
沃伦先生控告他散布诽谤性言论。
来自柯林斯例句
4. It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case.
公众人物想打赢诽谤官司可能会很难。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The paper got clobbered with libel damages of half a million pounds.