evil-speaking

noun

The act of speaking ill or maliciously of something or someone; blasphemy, slander; gossip.

OriginMiddle English *ivel-spekynge →
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Meanings

nounevil-speaking (countable and uncountable, plural evil-speakings)

plural evil-speakings · alternative evil speaking

  1. countableuncountableThe act of speaking ill or maliciously of something or someone; blasphemy, slander; gossip.

Origin

  1. Middle English*ivel-spekynge
  2. Englishevil-speaking

From Middle English *ivel-spekynge (suggested by Middle English yvelspeker, yvel speker, ivel spekare (“evil-speaker”)), equivalent to evil (noun) + speaking (noun).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

evil-speaking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evil-speaking

MLA

“evil-speaking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evil-speaking. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “evil-speaking,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/evil-speaking.

Source: evil-speaking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.