Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Any of the discourses of Demosthenes against Philip II of Macedon, defending the liberty of Athens.
- noun by extension Any
tirade ordeclamation full of bitter condemnation.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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It's been a while since I got to use the term philippic, and I have to say: I enjoyed it.
Rep. Weiner: Sit! 2010
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The term "philippic" comes from the Ancient Greek days when Demosthenes used to get up and yell about how terrible Philip of Macedon was -- and how he always threw his arms around procedure and stall, stall, stalled and then voted no, and wouldn't sit.
Rep. Weiner: Sit! 2010
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People who write philippics - which can only earn the name "philippic" when published to a murderous tyrant - have good reason to worry that the bold act will cost them their lives, and I believe it nearly cost me mine.
Dissident Voice Kim Petersen 2010
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Richard Dawkins has written a characteristically emotional anti-Christian philippic in the Times:
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Patrick Nielsen Hayden on A simple, mildly incredulous philippic.
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Watching the Hollywood mega-hit "WALL-E" with his daughter, Mr. Kernen discovers not only wonderfully rendered animation but a philippic targeting consumer capitalism.
Required, A Market Tutorial Michael C. Moynihan 2011
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In "My Jerry Saltz Problem," a spiritedly discursive philippic in the New Criterion about the changing nature of art criticism, James Panero articulates how disgruntled print journalists and traditional art critics feel about new media such as blogs, Twitter, and Facebook.
Sharon L. Butler: Jerry Saltz's Burden Sharon L. Butler 2011
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Richard Dawkins has written a characteristically emotional anti-Christian philippic in the Times:
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In "My Jerry Saltz Problem," a spiritedly discursive philippic in the New Criterion about the changing nature of art criticism, James Panero articulates how disgruntled print journalists and traditional art critics feel about new media such as blogs, Twitter, and Facebook.
Sharon L. Butler: Jerry Saltz's Burden Sharon L. Butler 2011
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In "My Jerry Saltz Problem," a spiritedly discursive philippic in the New Criterion about the changing nature of art criticism, James Panero articulates how disgruntled print journalists and traditional art critics feel about new media such as blogs, Twitter, and Facebook.
Sharon L. Butler: Jerry Saltz's Burden Sharon L. Butler 2011
stpeter commented on the word philippic
As long as it's not simple and desultory. ;-)
January 10, 2007
yarb commented on the word philippic
Scipio, observing my by-play in this scene, had a mind to come in for his share in the banter. Most venerable prop of the true practice, said he to Sangrado, as I am descended in the third generation from a physician of the old school, give me leave to join you in your philippic against chemical conspiracies.
- Lesage, The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, tr. Smollett, bk 10 ch. 1
October 8, 2008
bilby commented on the word philippic
"The talk, as usual, had veered around to the Beauforts, and even Mr. van der Luyden and Mr. Selfridge Merry, installed in the honorary arm-chairs tacitly reserved for them, paused to listen to the younger man’s philippic."
- Edith Wharton, 'The Age of Innocence'.
September 20, 2009