Word for the wise ©
With L, our Word for the wise © comes from the Latin libellus, meaning "little book".
libel is defined in most dictionaries as a statement that defames a person or damages his or her reputation. But it is worth noting that it must do so unreasonably or inaccurately. It is not the severity or the viciousness of a contention that makes it libelous; it's the wrongness that's fatal. And a libel must be published. So, did the The Sunday Times defame one of the greatest athletes of our time when, in reviewing the book LA Confidentiel: les secrets de Lance Armstrong, it reprinted the authors' doping allegations against the seven-time Tour de France winner? The cyclist's libel case against the paper will be heard in the High Court in London in November. London was the scene of perhaps the most famous libel trial of all, which began on 26 April 1895. Here's a critical exchange from it:Sir Edward Carson, the Marquess of Queensberry's barrister, asked Oscar Wilde regarding a boy named Walter Grainger, "Did you kiss him?" Without thinking of the consequences, Wilde replied. "Oh, dear no. He was, unfortunately, extremely ugly. I pitied him for it."
Next week, we're at "M". Candidates include "medium" and "media".
