Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of spreading tales, especially such as are either untrue or in some way detrimental to the person concerned.
- Spreading stories or reports which are likely to do harm.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of informing officiously; communication of sectrts, scandal, etc., maliciously.
- adjective Telling tales officiously.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Spreading gossip or rumor.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective prone to communicate confidential information
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Examples
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Again, “among your people” suggests that the problem of talebearing goes beyond the individual hurt and affects everybody.
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I strongly disapprove of talebearing of any sort, and wish to hear no more of this.
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Though Rebecca had had the better of him, George was above the meanness of talebearing or revenge upon a lady — only he could not help cleverly confiding to Captain Crawley, next day, some notions of his regarding Miss Rebecca — that she was a sharp one, a dangerous one, a desperate flirt, &c.; in all of which opinions Crawley agreed laughingly, and with every one of which
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Very little open quarrelling ever took place amongst them; but backbiting and talebearing were universal.
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Informers abounded where talebearing met with countenance and reward; and the sword was readily unsheathed when its success was certain, and it carved out empire.
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Not everyone approved; but Philip was King, there was no getting past that; and no one loved either guardian well enough to risk the dangerous task of talebearing.
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The ring of pupils around him, true to the child's creed of no talebearing, glanced at school books or lesson papers with preternaturally grave faces.
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You know that I never favor talebearing, but, just as a matter of curiosity, is it the young man who passes the plate in church, or the one who sells ribbon in Marsh and Elkins's?
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He had a score to settle with Josiah Wilby, a boy whose talebearing had procured him his last, well-earned whacking.
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It put a premium on talebearing and resorted to most cruel means to convict those who earnestly denied that their beliefs were different from those of the Church.
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