philippic

views updated Jun 08 2018

philippic (pl.) name of the orations of Demosthenes against Philip II, king of Macedon (IV B.C.); hence applied to Cicero's orations against Mark-Antony, and gen. to any invective or denunciatory speech. XVI. — L. philippicus — Gr. Philippikós, f. Phílippos; see -IC.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

philippic

views updated May 11 2018

phi·lip·pic / fəˈlipik/ • n. poetic/lit. a bitter attack or denunciation, esp. a verbal one.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

philippic

views updated May 14 2018

philippic a bitter attack or denunciation, especially a verbal one; from (via Latin) Greek philippikos, the name given to Demosthenes' speeches against Philip II of Macedon, also to those of Cicero against Mark Antony.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

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Philippics

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