groundless rumor; misleading rumor
Archaic term for a baseless or deceptive rumor. Not used in modern everyday speech; encountered mainly in classical texts or historical descriptions.
The old document states, 'Those who spread groundless rumors shall be punished.'
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 妖 (bewitching, mysterious) and 言 (word, speech) combine to suggest 'bewitching words,' i.e., a rumor that misleads or deceives. The reading およずれごと is archaic and its origin is unclear.