Word of the Day

: June 18, 2013

harangue

noun huh-RANG

What It Means

1 : a speech addressed to a public assembly

2 : a ranting speech or writing

3 : lecture

harangue in Context

The comedian's stand-up act consisted mostly of sharp harangues against celebrities and the media.

"Every time I see one of these conspiracy types stand up and with great zeal launch into their harangue I'm reminded of something I heard a former Idaho State Superintendent, Roy Truby, once say: 'I have a hard time understanding these people who say they love their country but hate their government.'" - From an article by Chris Carlson in the Idaho State Journal, May 1, 2013

Did You Know?

In Old Italian, the noun "aringo" referred to a public assembly, the verb "aringare" meant "to speak in public," and the noun "aringa" referred to a public speech. "Aringa" was borrowed into Middle French as "arenge," and it is from this form that we get our noun "harangue," which made its first appearance in English in the 16th century. Perhaps due to the bombastic or exasperated nature of some public speeches, the term quickly developed an added sense referring to a speech or writing in the style of a rant (though the word "rant" is not etymologically related). There is also a verb "harangue," which refers to the act of making such a speech.