backbiter

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backbiter

/ˈbæk.baɪt.ə(ɹ)/
/ˈbæk.baɪt.ɚ/ US
[ˈbæk.baɪɾ.ɚ] US

Where it comes from

From Middle English bakbitere, bakbytere, bacbitere, equivalent to backbite + -er.

noun backbiters

A person who says nasty things about another person behind the second person's back: that is, out of their sight and hearing. […] here were no Gibers, Cenſurers, Backbiters, Pick-pockets, Highwaymen, Houſebreakers, Attorneys, Bawds, Buffoons, Gameſters, Politicians, Wits, ſplenetick tedious Talkers, Controvertiſts, Raviſhers, Murderers, Robbers, Virtuoſo's; […]

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MLA

"backbiter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/backbiter. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

backbiter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/backbiter

Chicago

"backbiter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/backbiter.

BibTeX

@misc{backbiter_2026,
  title = {backbiter},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/backbiter},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}