diatribe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An abusive, bitter verbal or written attack, criticism or denunciation.
  2. A prolonged discourse; a long-winded speech.

Pronunciation

/ˈdaɪ.əˌtɹaɪb/ dīˈ -ə-trībˌ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-diatribe.wav

Word forms

diatribe diatribes

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δῐᾰ- (dĭă-) Proto-Indo-European *terh₁-der. Ancient Greek τρῑ́βω (trī́bō) Ancient Greek δῐᾰτρῑ́βω (dĭătrī́bō) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Ancient Greek -ᾱ (-ā) Ancient Greek -η (-ē) Ancient Greek δῐᾰτρῐβή (dĭătrĭbḗ)der. Latin diatribader. French diatribebor. English diatribe First attested 1581, borrowed from French diatribe, from Latin diatriba (“learned discussion or discourse”), from Ancient Greek διατριβή (diatribḗ, “way of spending time, lecture”), from διά (diá, “through”) + τρίβω (tríbō, “to waste, wear out”)

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