The carrying of injurious or malicious reports. Also attrib.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps., lii. 2. He by his wicked tale-bearing kindled ye Tyrants rage.
1680. Allen, Peace & Unity, 27. To forbear all hard speeches … especially tale-bearing, back-biting, and whispering.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. iii. He was the great opponent of the tale-bearing habits of the school.
1857. C. Brontë, Professor, I. xii. 192. Very little open quarrelling ever took place amongst them; but back-biting and tale-bearing were universal.
1876. T. Hardy, Ethelberta, II. xxxiv. 71. Will you take care that that piece of gossip you mentioned to me is not repeated in this house? I strongly disapprove of talebearing of any sort, and wish to hear no more of this.
