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.
雙語例句
1. Canadian libel law is based on English common law.
加拿大的誹謗法是以英國的習(xí)慣法為基礎(chǔ)的。
來自柯林斯例句
2. She had a libel action against the magazine pending.
她對該雜志提起的誹謗訴訟尚未判決。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Mr Warren sued him for libel over the remarks.
沃倫先生控告他散布誹謗性言論。
來自柯林斯例句
4. It can be difficult for public figures to win a libel case.
公眾人物想打贏誹謗官司可能會很難。
來自柯林斯例句
5. The paper got clobbered with libel damages of half a million pounds.