Etymologically
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diatriba

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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]

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