Other forms: diatribes
A diatribe is a long bitter attack in speech or writing. Launch into a diatribe, an angry diatribe, a diatribe against the press.
The length is part of the definition, and the word implies the speaker went on past the point of persuading anybody. The Greek behind it meant a way of passing time, and then a learned discourse, which is a long way from abuse.
1noundiatribeA long bitter attack in speech or writing.
“He launched into a diatribe against modern music that lasted the whole meal.”
diatribe is an attack.
The Greek is wearing away, right through. A diatribe wears you down, and it does not stop when the point has been made.
hooks ontowear
Greek diatribe first meant a pastime and then a learned discourse, from dia plus tribein, to rub or wear away.
Proto-Indo-European
*terh₁-
French
diatribe
English, today
diatribe
Built from
Borrowed from French diatribe. First attested 1581, borrowed from French diatribe, from Latin diatriba (“learned discussion or discourse”), from Ancient Greek διατριβή (“way of spending time, lecture”), from διά (“through”) + τρίβω (“to waste, wear out”)
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA