diatriba

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [diˈa.trɪ.ba]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈaː.tri.ba]^[1]

Forms

diatriba f (genitive diatribae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek διατριβή (diatribḗ, “pastime; study; discourse”).^[2][1] The Greek word is from διατρίβω (diatríbō, “to rub away, spend time”).^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Aulus Gellius uses it of the school where he questioned the philosopher Taurus.^[5][6] Köbler dates Gellius about 165 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Gellius it meant a learned discussion and, by transfer, a school of philosophy or rhetoric, as of Aristotle choosing a successor for his school.^[6][7][5] Glosses explain it as conflicts, disagreements or disputations.^[5]

Medieval British sources used it of a school for rhetoric and of a critical dissertation.^[8] English diatribe is recorded in the 1640s, earlier in its Latin form from the 1580s, first for a continued discourse.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of a philosopher's school.^[5][4]
• 1580s – English uses the Latin form diatriba.^[3]
• 1640s – English diatribe is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A learned discussion, discourse.^[6][7]
2. A school of philosophy or rhetoric.^[2][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) A critical dissertation, diatribe.^[8]

Related words

• English diatribe

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press