Philippic

American  

[fi-lip-ik] / fɪˈlɪp ɪk /

noun

1. any of the orations delivered by Demosthenes, the Athenian orator, in the 4th century b.c., against Philip, king of Macedon.

2. any of the 14 orations delivered by Cicero against Marc Antony (44-43 b.c.).

3. (lowercase) any speech or discourse of bitter denunciation.

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philippic British  

/ fɪˈlɪpɪk /

noun

1. a bitter or impassioned speech of denunciation; invective

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Etymology

Origin of Philippic

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin Philippicus, from Greek Philippikós; Philip, -ic

Example Sentences

It was on the receipt of the news in Rome of the first battle, but before the second had been fought, that the last Philippic was spoken.

From The Life of Cicero Volume II. by Trollope, Anthony

If he be blamed because his Philippic was anonymous, how do the anonymous writers of to-day escape?

From The Life of Cicero Volume II. by Trollope, Anthony

The First Philippic, spoken early in 351 B.C., was no sudden note of alarm drawing attention to an unnoticed peril.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various

Cicero, in his eighth Philippic, expostulated with them on their timorous and impolitic lenity of expression.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume II by Dunlop, John

Dear Sir,—I have to thank you for Mr. Pickering's elaborate Philippic against Mr. Adams, Gerry, Smith, and myself; and I have delayed the acknowledgment until I could read it and make some observations on it.

From Inquiry Into the Origin and Course of Political Parties in the United States by Van Buren, Martin