n. A long angry speech, usually of a censorious or denunciatory nature; a diatribe. [French, from Old French, act of firing, from tirer, to draw out, endure, probably back-formation from martirant, present participle of martirer, to torture (influenced by mar, to one's misfortune, and tiranz, executioner, tyrant), from martir, martyr, from Late Latin martyr; see MARTYR.] |
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