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Invective

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in⋅vec⋅tive

  [in-vek-tiv]
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–noun
1. vehement or violent denunciation, censure, or reproach.
2. a railing accusation; vituperation.
3. an insulting or abusive word or expression.
–adjective
4. vituperative; denunciatory; censoriously abusive.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < LL invectīvus abusive, equiv. to L invect(us) (ptp. of invehī to attack with words, inveigh ) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
in⋅vec⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
in⋅vec⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. contumely, scorn. See abuse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·vec·tive   (ĭn-věk'tĭv)   
n.  

  1. Denunciatory or abusive language; vituperation.

  2. Denunciatory or abusive expression or discourse.

adj.  Of, relating to, or characterized by denunciatory or abusive language.

[From Middle English invectif, denunciatory, from Old French, from Late Latin invectīvus, reproachful, abusive, from Latin invectus, past participle of invehī, to inveigh against; see inveigh.]
in·vec'tive·ly adv., in·vec'tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

invective  (n.)
1523, from a M.E. adj. (1430), "characterized by denunciatory language," from L.L. invectivus "abusive," from L. invectus, pp. of invehi "to attack with words" (see inveigh). For nuances of usage, see humor.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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