a. [ad. L. type *vituperātīv-us, f. vituperāt-, ppl. stem of vituperāre, or directly f. VITUPERATE v. + -IVE. Cf. obs. F. vituperativement adv. (Godef.), It. vituperativo.]
1. Of words, language, etc.: Containing, conveying or expressing strong depreciation; violently abusive or fault-finding; contumelious, opprobrious. Also, of or pertaining to vituperation.
Freq. in the 19th c.
1727. Pope, etc., Art of Sinking, 115. The vituperative partition will as easily be replenished with a most choice collection [of arguments].
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. xix. Tristram!—Melancholy dissyllable of sound! which, to his ears, was unison to Nincompoop, and every name vituperative under heaven.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxx. In utter despair at this vituperative epithet.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xii. 129. His eloquence becoming more and more licentious and vituperative.
1859. Mill, Liberty, ii. (1865), 32/1. It is far more important to restrain this employment of vituperative language than the other.
b. Const. of (a person). rare–1.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., viii. Had I … heard by report that a question vituperative of my Prince had been asked by the King of France, I had … instantly mounted and returned.
2. Characterized or accompanied by vituperation or abuse.
1754. Chesterfield, in World, No. 101, ¶ 3. The torrents of their [sc. female] eloquence, especially in the vituperative way, stun all opposition.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, II. i. The indignant, soon to become vituperative, secession of a considerable section of the cabinet.
1871. ‘Holme Lee,’ Miss Barrington, I. ix. 129. When they have been most in fault themselves, they are most prone to shower a general vituperative blame and condemnation on the other side.
3. Of persons: Given to vituperation; employing or uttering abusive language.
1819. Blackw. Mag., V. 90. A Whig is a vituperative animal.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., III. v. Quietly hearing all manner of vituperative able editors speak.
1904. H. Paul, Hist. Mod. Eng., I. xii. 208. Sir Alexander Cockburn … set himself up as the violent and vituperative champion of the Protestant religion.
Hence Vituperatively adv., in a vituperative manner; with vituperation or abuse.
1831. Carlyle, in Froude, First 40 Years (1882), II. 159. The critical republic will cackle vituperatively, or perhaps maintain total silence.
1852. Fraser’s Mag., XLVI. 456. [He] continues his vituperatively shrill demands.
1884. J. Parker, Apost. Life, III. 115. They would not speak their mother tongue if they did not speak vituperatively.
