vituperative, a.
(vaɪˈtjuːpərətɪv, vɪ-)
[ad. L. type *vituperātīv-us, f. vituperāt-, ppl. stem of vituperāre, or directly f. vituperate v. + -ive. Cf. obs. F. vituperativement adv. (Godef.), It. vituperativo.]
1. Of words, language, etc.: Containing, conveying, or expressing strong depreciation; violently abusive or fault-finding; contumelious, opprobrious. Also, of or pertaining to vituperation.
Freq. in the 19th c.
| 1727 Pope, etc. Art of Sinking 115 The vituperative partition will as easily be replenished with a most choice collection [of arguments]. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy i. xix, Tristram!—Melancholy dissyllable of sound! which, to his ears, was unison to Nincompoop, and every name vituperative under heaven. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxx, In utter despair at this vituperative epithet. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. xii. 129 His eloquence becoming more and more licentious and vituperative. 1859 Mill Liberty ii. (1865) 32/1 It is far more important to restrain this employment of vituperative language than the other. |
b. Const. of (a person). rare— 1.
| 1823 Scott Quentin D. viii, Had I..heard by report that a question vituperative of my Prince had been asked by the King of France, I had..instantly mounted and returned. |
2. Characterized or accompanied by vituperation or abuse.
| 1754 Chesterfield in World No. 101 ¶3 The torrents of their [sc. female] eloquence, especially in the vituperative way, stun all opposition. 1844 Disraeli Coningsby ii. i, The indignant, soon to become vituperative, secession of a considerable section of the cabinet. 1871 ‘Holme Lee’ Miss Barrington I. ix. 129 When they have been most in fault themselves, they are most prone to shower a general vituperative blame and condemnation on the other side. |
3. Of persons: Given to vituperation; employing or uttering abusive language.
| 1819 Blackw. Mag. V. 90 A Whig is a vituperative animal. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. iii. v, Quietly hearing all manner of vituperative able editors speak. 1904 H. Paul Hist. Mod. Eng. I. xii. 208 The violent and vituperative champion of the Protestant religion. |
Hence viˈtuperatively adv., in a vituperative manner; with vituperation or abuse.
| 1831 Carlyle in Froude First 40 Years (1882) II. 159 The critical republic will cackle vituperatively, or perhaps maintain total silence. 1852 Fraser's Mag. XLVI. 456 [He] continues his vituperatively shrill demands. 1884 J. Parker Apost. Life III. 115 They would not speak their mother tongue if they did not speak vituperatively. |