fulminate

English edit

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fulminate

Etymology edit

From Latin fulminātus, past participle of fulminō (“lighten, hurl or strike with lightning”), from fulmen (“lightning which strikes and sets on fire, thunderbolt”), from earlier *fulgmen, *fulgimen, from fulgeō, fulgō (“flash, lighten”). Doublet of fulmine. More at fulgent.

Pronunciation edit

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/, /ˈfʊlmɪneɪt/
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfʌlmɪneɪt/, /ˈfʊlmɪneɪt/, /-əneɪt/
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Verb edit

fulminate (third-person singular simple present fulminates, present participle fulminating, simple past and past participle fulminated)

(intransitive, figuratively) To make a verbal attack.
(transitive, figuratively) To issue as a denunciation.
- 1842, Thomas De Quincey, “Cicero”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine:
  They fulminated the most hostile of all decrees.
- 1855, William Neilson, Mesmerism in its relation to health and disease, page 46:
  In short, the criticism which the great lexicographer fulminated against an unfortunate author, seems to have been adopted by the profession as applicable to everything under the sun […]
(intransitive) To thunder or make a loud noise.
(transitive, now rare) To strike with lightning; to cause to explode.
- 2009, Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice, Vintage, published 2010, page 235:
  the present owners couldn't afford the electric bills anymore, several amateur gaffers, sad to say, having already been fulminated trying to bootleg power in off the municipal lines.

Synonyms edit

(verbal attack): berate, condemn, criticize, denounce, denunciate, vilify

Translations edit

To make a verbal attack

Russian: порицать (ru) (poricatʹ)
Spanish: fulminar (es)

To issue as a denunciation

Norwegian:
Bokmål: kaste bannstråle imot
Spanish: fulminar (es)

To strike with lightning

French: foudroyer (fr)
Portuguese: fulminar (pt)
Spanish: fulminar (es)

To cause to explode

Norwegian:
Bokmål: la eksplodere

Noun edit

fulminate (plural fulminates)

(chemistry) Any salt or ester of fulminic acid, mostly explosive.
- 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 193:
  On 19 February a jubilant Bigeard announced that his 3rd R.P.C. had seized eighty-seven bombs, seventy kilos of explosive, 5,120 fulminate of mercury detonators, 309 electric detonators, etc.