Etymology of the English word libel
the English word
libelderived from the French word
libelderived from the Latin word
libellus (little, small book; memorial)
derived from the Latin word
liber (book, volume; inner bark of a tree; children; child; free; unimpeded; void of; unconstrained, unrestrained, unencumbered)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*leudh-Date
The earliest known usage of libel in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
libelant,
libelee,
libeler,
libelous,
libeled,
libelingUsage
Word found in Modern English
