noun

1. Christian Theol. unseemly conduct of a religious person that discredits religion or causes moral lapse in another
2. any act, person, or thing that offends or shocks moral feelings of the community and leads to disgrace
3. a reaction of shame, disgrace, outrage, etc. caused by such an act, person, or thing
4. ignominy; disgrace
5. malicious gossip; defamatory or slanderous talk

Etymology: altered (infl. by Fr scandale or LL) < ME scandle < OFr escandele < LL(Ec) scandalum, cause for stumbling, temptation < Gr(Ec) skandalon, a snare: see descend

transitive verb scandaled -·daled or scandalled -·dalled, scandaling -·dal·ing or scandalling -·dal·ling

1. Now Chiefly Dial. to slander
2. Obsolete to disgrace