viˈtuperous, a.
[ad. obs. or arch. F. vitupéreux (= Pr. vituperos), or Sp. (also It. and Pg.) vituperoso, ad. late or med.L. vituperōsus, f. vituperium vitupery: see -ous.]
1. = vituperious a. 1.
| 1588 Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 33 Then they returne againe with vituperous and vile words. 1914 R. M. Jones Spiritual Reformers 16th & 17th Cent. v. 69 Schwenckfeld was denounced in the most vituperous language of the period. |
2. = vituperious a. 2.
| 1610 Chester's Tri. To Rdr. A 2 b, Let him be prest without pity.., and like a vituperous offender, be stamped and stared at. 1651 Culpepper Astrol. Judgem. Dis. (1658) 173 White clouds in the Urine, and neer the bottome, are commendable; black clouds, and neer the top, are bad and vituperous. 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 July 409/3 Venetia..watches with relief Karlo's vituperous and vulgar exit. |
Hence viˈtuperously adv., vituperatively.
| 1892 E. L. Wakeman in Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 18 Aug., Authorities differ not only widely but vituperously as to the origin of practical effort for their betterment. |