Saturday, June 18, 2011

obloquy


obloquy [ˈɒbləkwi] n.

1.) Abusively detractive language or utterance; calumny.
2.) The condition of disgrace suffered as a result of abuse or vilification; ill repute (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language).

Etymology: Middle English obloqui, from Late Latin obloquium, abusive contradiction, from Latin obloqui, to interrupt : ob-, against ; see ob- + loqui, to speak.

"Hawthorne takes the license of a sympathetic biographer in speaking of his hero's having incurred obloquy by his conservative attitude on the question of Slavery. The only class in the American world that suffered in the smallest degree, at this time, from social persecution, was the little band of Northern Abolitionists, who were as unfashionable as they were indiscreet—which is saying much." (Hawthorne, Henry James, 1879).

(The Calumny of Apelles, Sandro Botticelli, 1494)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

There's a lot of obloquy going on these days

Drake Sigar said...

So this is verbal abuse, not physical?

Unknown said...

I agree with thenitefalls. Nice word though. Not common enough I feel.

Charles said...

Time to begin slipping this word into my writing.

Unknown said...

Sadly most obloquy doesn't have to be based on fact

RaShelle Workman said...

What a mouthful of a word. Thanks, E! =D

TIMMYTHEROBOT said...

I like how they use a word I dont know calumny to define it.

Intraman said...

this botticelli painting is beautiful

Chain said...

Its actually not that far away from the german language if you ask me.

shari said...

I need to create obloquy for a character of mine... shouldn't be difficult if I set him in a political environment. Too bad he's only 13.

Germs said...

Nice information, learn something new every day

Viperman24 said...

I'l try and use this word in my daily vocab I like this word

123 said...

oblolololoquy

Bart said...

that is an ugly looking word.

Brandon Sample said...

i've heard a lot of obloguy lately. and spell check doesn't even allow this word.

Salted Plum said...

Oh this blog is very good for me! Thank you & followed.

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