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harangue

 - 3 dictionary results

ha⋅rangue

  [huh-rang] noun, verb, -rangued, -rangu⋅ing.
Use harangue in a Sentence
–noun
1. a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe.
2. a long, passionate, and vehement speech, esp. one delivered before a public gathering.
3. any long, pompous speech or writing of a tediously hortatory or didactic nature; sermonizing lecture or discourse.
–verb (used with object)
4. to address in a harangue.
–verb (used without object)
5. to deliver a harangue.
Origin:
1530–40; (n.) < MF harangue < It ar(r)inga speech, oration, n. deriv. of ar(r)ingare to speak in public, v. deriv. of aringo public square < Goth *hriggs ring 1 ; (v.) < MF haranguer < It ar(r)ingare
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ha·rangue   (hə-rāng')   
n.  

  1. A long pompous speech, especially one delivered before a gathering.

  2. A speech or piece of writing characterized by strong feeling or expression; a tirade.

v.   ha·rangued, ha·rangu·ing, ha·rangues

v.   tr.
To deliver a harangue to.
v.   intr.
To deliver a harangue.

[Middle English arang, a speech to an assembly, from Old French harangue, from Old Italian aringa, from aringare, to speak in public, probably from aringo, arringa, public square, meeting place, of Germanic origin; see koro- in Indo-European roots.]
ha·rangu'er 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

harangue 
c.1450, Scottish arang (in Eng. from c.1600), from M.Fr. harangue, from It. aringo "public square, platform," from Goth. *hriggs (pronounced "hrings"), from P.Gmc. *ring "circular gathering." The first -a- inserted to ease Romance pronunciation of Gmc. hr- (cf. hamper (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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