# Invective

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Insulting language used to express blame or censure

**Invective** (from [Middle English](/source/Middle_English) *invectif*, or [Old French](/source/Old_French) and [Late Latin](/source/Late_Latin) *invectus*) is abusive, or insulting language used to express blame or censure; or, a form of rude expression or discourse intended to offend or hurt;[1][2][3] [vituperation](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vituperation), or deeply seated ill will, vitriol.[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] The Latin adjective *invectivus* means 'scolding.'[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## The genre of invective

The "genre of invective" or "*vituperatio*" in Latin is a classical literary form used in [Greek](/source/Greek_literature) and [Roman](/source/Latin_literature) [polemical](/source/Polemical) verse as well as in prose. Its primary context is as [rhetoric](/source/Rhetoric).

The genre of *vituperatio* belongs to the *[genus demonstrativum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Genus_demonstrativum&action=edit&redlink=1)*, which is composed of the elements of praise and blame.

During the [Roman Republic](/source/Roman_Republic), personal invectives and character assassination were widely used as part of both forensic speeches and orations. [Cicero](/source/Cicero) made frequent use of the invective form against political foes such as [Clodius](/source/Clodius), [Catilina](/source/Catilina) (in the Catalinarian speeches) or [Mark Antony](/source/Mark_Antony) (Philippics). Common charges included avarice, cupidity, cowardice, effeminacy, drunkenness, poor writing and speaking skills, luxury, disapproved sexual habits and tyrannical behaviour.

Between 44 BC and 30 BC, invective became a tool of the propaganda war between [Octavian](/source/Octavian) and Mark Antony.[4] Among other slanders, Mark Antony was accused of having married the foreign queen [Cleopatra](/source/Cleopatra), of being her submissive subject and of having lost his Roman identity. Further, it was stated that Cleopatra was planning to invade Italy. This propaganda before the [Battle of Actium](/source/Battle_of_Actium) in 31 BC allowed Octavian to present his campaign as a legitimate military campaign to defend the Roman Republic.

The preferred literary term for the later invective of the [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance) is [libel](/source/Libel_(poetry)).

## See also

- [Libel (poetry)](/source/Libel_(poetry))

- [Diss (music)](/source/Diss_(music))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "in·vec·tive." *[The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language](/source/The_American_Heritage_Dictionary_of_the_English_Language)*, Fourth Edition. 2000, 2003 Houghton Mifflin Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "invective." *Collins Essential English Dictionary*, 2004, 2006. HarperCollins Publishers.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "invective." *WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection.*[*sic*] 2003-2008. Princeton University, Clipart.com, Farlex Inc. 13 May 2017 [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/invective](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/invective). Note: This MLA format citation (which provided the most information regarding this unusual citation) was provided on the web page.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Borgies, Loïc (2016). *Le conflit propagandiste entre Octavien et Marc Antoine. De l'usage politique de la uituperatio entre 44 et 30 a. C. n*. Brussels: Latomus. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-429-3459-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-429-3459-7).

## External links

Look up ***[invective](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/invective)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- [invectivity.com](https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/sfb1285/profil) - Link to the German [Collaborative Research Centre](/source/Collaborative_Research_Centers) 1285 of the [Technical University of Dresden](/source/TU_Dresden) with the topic "Invectivity - Constellations and Dynamics of Disparagement", which investigates phenomena of degradation and abuse - including literary genres such as invectives - in an interdisciplinary manner.

Authority control databases International FAST National United States France 2 BnF data 2 Israel Other Yale LUX

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