Subject: Enough already.
Date: Aug 14 21:40:54 1999
From: Cliff Drake - cdrake at zipcon.net


The Word of the Day for August 15 is:

obloquy \AH-bluh-kwee\ (noun)
*1 : a strongly condemnatory utterance : abusive language
2 : the condition of one that is discredited : bad repute

Example sentence:
"I was adored once," sighed the disgraced star, "but since the
scandal, I've become an object of obloquy, defamed and derided by
my erstwhile fans."

Did you know?
Harangued with harsh words? You can choose from several English
synonyms to name that tongue-lashing. "Abuse" is a good general
term that usually stresses the anger of the speaker and the
harshness of the language, as in "scathing verbal abuse."
"Vituperation" often specifies fluent, sustained abuse; "a
torrent of vituperation" is a typical use of this term.
"Invective" implies vehemence comparable to "vituperation," but
may suggest greater verbal and rhetorical skill; it may also
apply especially to a public denunciation, as in "blistering
political invective." "Obloquy," which comes from the Latin "ob-"
(meaning "against") plus "loqui" (meaning "to speak"), suggests
defamation and consequent shame and disgrace; a typical example
of its use would be "subjected to obloquy and derision."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

----------------
Brought to you by Merriam-Webster Inc. http://www.m-w.com
----------------