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scandal

 - 3 dictionary results

scan⋅dal

  [skan-dl] noun, verb, -daled, -dal⋅ing or (especially British) -dalled, -dal⋅ling.
Use scandal in a Sentence
–noun
1. a disgraceful or discreditable action, circumstance, etc.
2. an offense caused by a fault or misdeed.
3. damage to reputation; public disgrace.
4. defamatory talk; malicious gossip.
5. a person whose conduct brings disgrace or offense.
–verb (used with object)
6. British Dialect. to defame (someone) by spreading scandal.
7. Obsolete. to disgrace.
Origin:
1175–1225; < LL scandalum < LGk skándalon snare, cause of moral stumbling; r. ME scandle < OF (north) escandle < LL, as above

Synonyms:
3. discredit, dishonor, shame, disrepute, opprobrium, ignominy. 4. slander, calumny, aspersion, obloquy. See gossip.

Antonyms:
4. honor, praise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To scandal
scan·dal   (skān'dl)   
n.  

  1. A publicized incident that brings about disgrace or offends the moral sensibilities of society: a drug scandal that forced the mayor's resignation.

  2. A person, thing, or circumstance that causes or ought to cause disgrace or outrage: a politician whose dishonesty is a scandal; considered the housing shortage a scandal.

  3. Damage to reputation or character caused by public disclosure of immoral or grossly improper behavior; disgrace.

  4. Talk that is damaging to one's character; malicious gossip.


[French scandale, from Old French, cause of sin, from Latin scandalum, trap, stumbling block, temptation, from Greek skandalon; see skand- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

scandal 
1581, "discredit caused by irreligious conduct," from M.Fr. scandale, from L.L. scandalum "cause for offense, stumbling block, temptation," from Gk. skandalon "stumbling block," originally "trap with a springing device," from PIE *skand- "jump" (see scan; cf. also slander). Attested from c.1225, but the modern word is a reborrowing. Meaning "malicious gossip" is from 1596; sense of "person whose conduct is a disgrace" is from 1634. Scandalize (1489) originally meant "make a public scandal of;" sense of "shock by doing something improper" first recorded 1647. Scandal sheet "sensational newspaper" is from 1939.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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