Forms: 2–5 bac-, bakbite, 4–6 bakbyte, 5–6 bag-, bakke-, bacbyte, backbyte, 6–7 backebite, 4– backbite. Pa. t. 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.]

1

  To detract from the character of, to slander, traduce, speak ill of: a. a person absent.

2

c. 1275.  [see BACKBITING vbl. sb.]

3

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter xxxviii. 20. Þat yheldes ivels for godes bac-bate [Vulg. detrahebant] me.

4

1393.  Gower, Conf., I. 411. Is none so good, that he ne passeth Betwene his teeth and is backbited.

5

1496.  Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), VII. ii. 278/2. Mary the syster of Moses backbyted her brother.

6

a. 1520.  Myrr. our Ladye, Introd. 47. Why hast thou bakbyten my handemayde adjugynge hir to be prowde?

7

1609.  Holland, Amm. Marcell., XVII. viii. 91. With contumelious tearmes traduced and backbitten.

8

a. 1791.  Wesley, Husb. & Wives, iii. 7, Wks. 1811, IX. 67. To backbite an enemy is sin; how much more to backbite one’s own yoke-fellow.

9

1851.  Helps, Comp. Solit., iii. (1874), 31. People will backbite one another to any extent rather than not be amused.

10

  † b.  an institution, action, character, etc. Obs.

11

1382.  Wyclif, James iv. 11. He that bakbitith his brother bakbitith the lawe.

12

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 32. The verse of famous poets witt He does backebite.

13

1602.  Dekker, Satirom., Wks. 1873, I. 209. Doe not back-bite her beauties.

14

  c.  absolutely or intr.

15

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 80. To bakbite and to bosten and bere fals witnesse.

16

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. i. 36. Vse his men well Dauy, for they are arrant knaues, and will backe-bite.

17

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., III. 613. Backbite not, lest thou be backbitten.

18