Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism: repeated diatribes against the senator.
noun
- a bitter or violent criticism or attack; denunciation
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.