diatribe

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

   The politician's speech was a diatribe against the media.

2. 2
   noun

   a piece of prolonged, abusive criticism

   His column descended into a lengthy diatribe about modern art.

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Simplified etymology

Diatribe came into English in the late 16th century through French from Latin diatribe, “learned discussion” or “school,” itself from Greek diatribē, “a wearing away of time,” hence “employment, study, or discourse.” This scholarly sense remained standard until the early 19th century, when “bitter criticism” or “invective” appeared, apparently through renewed French influence.

From Greek dia- ("through, across") + tribē ("rubbing, wearing away") → diatribē ("pastime, discourse"), via Latin diatriba ("learned discussion") and French diatribe; entered English in the 16th–17th c. meaning bitter or abusive speech or writing.

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