diatribe
English
Etymology
First attested 1581, from Latin diatriba (“learned discussion or discourse”), from Ancient Greek διατριβή (diatribē, “way of spending time, lecture”), from διά (dia, “through”) + τρίβω (tribō, “I waste, wear out”)
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈdaɪ.əˌtɹaɪb/
Noun
diatribe (plural diatribes)
- An abusive, bitter denunciation.
- 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, Lord Stranleigh Abroad[1]:
- “… No rogue e’er felt the halter draw, with a good opinion of the law, and perhaps my own detestation of the law arises from my having frequently broken it. If this long diatribe bores you, just say so, and I’ll cut it short.”
- 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, Lord Stranleigh Abroad[1]:
- A prolonged discourse.
- A speech or writing which bitterly denounces something.
- The senator was prone to diatribes which could go on for more than an hour.
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:diatribe
Derived terms
- diatribal
Translations
bitter denunciation
prolongued discourse
Quotations
1991, Bill Crow, Jazz Anecdotes[2], Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780195071337, page 316:
- You know, it’s all this racial diatribe, and very strong language, screaming at the top of his lungs into the telephone.
2000, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Scholastic Press, ISBN 9780439139595, page 41:
- Aunt Petunia wasn’t eating anything at all. Her arms were folded, her lips were pursed, and she seemed to be chewing her tongue, as though biting back the furious diatribe she longed to throw at Harry.
French
Etymology
Latin diatriba (“learned discussion or discourse”), from Ancient Greek διατριβή (diatribē, “way of spending time, lecture”), from διά (dia, “through”) + τρίβω (tribō, “I waste, wear out”)
Pronunciation
- IPA: /dja.tʁib/
Noun
diatribe f (plural diatribes)
- diatribe (abusive, bitter discourse)