diatribe
[ dahy-uh-trahyb ]
/ ˈdaɪ əˌtraɪb /
noun
a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism: repeated diatribes against the senator.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
diatomic, diatomite, diatonic, diatonicism, diatreme, diatribe, diatropism, diaz, diaz-, diazepam, diazine
Origin of diatribe
1575–85; < Latin diatriba < Greek diatribḗ pastime, study, discourse, derivative of diatríbein to rub away (dia- dia- + tríbein to rub)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for diatribe
British Dictionary definitions for diatribe
diatribe
/ (ˈdaɪəˌtraɪb) /
noun
a bitter or violent criticism or attack; denunciation
Word Origin for diatribe
C16: from Latin diatriba learned debate, from Greek diatribē discourse, pastime, from diatribein to while away, from dia- + tribein to rub
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for diatribe
diatribe
1640s (in Latin form in English from 1580s), "discourse, critical dissertation," from French diatribe (15c.), from Latin diatriba "learned discussion," from Greek diatribe "employment, study," in Plato, "discourse," literally "a wearing away (of time)," from dia- "away" (see dia-) + tribein "to wear, rub," from PIE root *ter- "to rub, turn, twist" (see throw). Sense of "invective" is 1804, apparently from French.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper