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ind, esp. a declaration, bill, certificate, request, supplication, etc. [Obs.] Chaucer. A libel of forsaking [divorcement]. Wyclif (Matt. v. 31).

One who libels; one who institutes a suit in an ecclesiastical or admiralty court. [Written also libellant.] Cranch.

One who libels. [Written also libeller.] " Libelers of others." Buckkminster.

A libeler.

The party against whom a libel has been filed; -- corresponding to defendant in a common law action.

A dragon fly.

Like or pertaining to the dragon fi

Containing or involving a libel; defamatory; containing that which exposes some person to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule; as, a libelous pamphlet. [Written also libellous.] -- Li"bel*ous*ly, adv.

To libel or traduce; to calumniate. Fuller.

To libel mutually.

Pertaining to, or containing, an accusation; as, an accusatory libel. Grote.

Containing an appeal. An appellatory libel ought to contain the name of the party appellant. Ayliffe.

who engages in or promotes noisy quarrels. What doth he but turn broiler, . . . make new libels against the church Hammond.

lsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of something disreputable; to slander; to libel. Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings. Strype. Syn. asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter; blacken; libel. See Asperse.

w. Shak. Can a fugitive daughter enjoy herself while her parents are in tear Richardson A libellous pamphlet of a fugitive physician. Sir H. Wotton.

Tending to excite anger, animosity, tumult, or sedition; seditious; as, inflammatory libels, writings, speeches, or publications. Burke.

The writer of a lampoon. "Libelers, lampooners, and pamphleteers." Tatler.

ps that such a leasing told. Fairfax. Leasing making (Scots Law), the uttering of lies or libels upon the personal character of the sovereign, his court, or his family. Bp. Burnet.

on, without any bill of indictment laid before them, as, the presentment of a nuisance, a libel, or the like; also, an inquisition of office and indictment by a grand jury; an official accusation presented to a tribunal by the grand jury in an indictment, or the act of offering an indictment; also, the indictment itsel…

lets, or papers, without previous restraint or censorship, subject only to punishment for libelous, seditious, or morally pernicious matters. -- Press bed, a bed that may be folded, and inclosed, in a press or closet. Boswell. -- Press of sail, (Naut.), as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.…