revile
revile
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "revile" is /ɹəˈvaɪl/. Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
re (ɹə):
/ɹ/ - voiced alveolar fricative (similar to the "r" sound in "run")
/ə/ - schwa (a central vowel sound)
vile (vaɪl):
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative (similar to the "v" sound in "voice")
/aɪ/ - diphthong sound (combination of /a/ as in "father" and /ɪ/ as in "bit")
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant (similar to the "l" sound in "like")
Word Form Variations
"Revile" is a verb, and for most verbs in English, there isn't a dedicated plural form. It remains the same for singular and plural subjects.
Here are the variations you'll encounter:
Present tense (singular and plural): reviles, revile (depending on whether you're referring to "he/she/it reviles" or "we/you/they revile")
Past tense (singular and plural): reviled
Present participle: reviling
Past participle: reviled
There's no gerund form (verb acting as a noun) for "revile."
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Verb:
Definition: To attack someone or something verbally with strong criticism, contempt, and often anger.
Synonyms: vilify, berate, denounce, vituperate, disparage
Antonyms: praise, extol, laud, commend, endorse
Noun (less common):
Definition: An act of reviling; a harsh and contemptuous criticism.
Synonyms: diatribe, tirade, vilification, abuse, condemnation
Antonyms: praise, commendation, eulogy, endorsement
Examples of Use
Literature:
Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities depicts the French Revolution, where the aristocracy was "reviled by the downtrodden masses" (Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities).
Newspapers:
A headline in The Guardian might read: "Politician Reviled for Controversial Remarks" (The Guardian).
Online Publications:
A movie review blog might state: "The film's special effects were widely reviled by critics" (Fictional Blog Name).
Entertainment Mediums:
In a superhero movie, the villain might be "reviled for their reign of terror."
Public Discourse:
During a heated debate, someone might argue: "We shouldn't be reviling those with differing viewpoints; let's try to find common ground."
Social Media:
A social media post might express frustration: "Why are people reviling this celebrity for a minor mistake?"
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Revile
Unfortunately, "revile" isn't as common in famous quotes as some other words. Here are a few quotes that use the word or a close synonym:
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela (This quote doesn't use "revile" directly, but the sentiment opposes the idea of being condemned for mistakes.)
"A man is not what he thinks he is, but what he does." - Fyodor Dostoevsky (Similar to Mandela's quote, this emphasises action over criticism.)
"Intolerance is itself a form of violence and bigotry is itself a form of tyranny." - Mahatma Gandhi (Similar to the concept of reviling someone for viewpoints.)
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (Focuses on the dangers of silence in the face of injustice.)
"The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has." - Confucius (Speaks to the idea of being above the need for others' approval.)
"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (Highlights the power of self-determination over external criticism.)
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." - Nelson Mandela (Similar to the first quote, emphasises overcoming challenges.)
"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them." - Rabindranath Tagore (Speaks to facing criticism head-on.)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." - Steve Jobs (While not using "revile," it emphasises pursuing your passion even if others don't understand.)
"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." - Gloria Steinem (This quote, though informal, captures the potential discomfort that can come from facing criticism, even if it leads to positive change.)
Etymology
The word "revile" travelled a bit before it landed in English! Here's the breakdown:
Origin: The story starts in Old French, where they had a word "revilir" which meant "to despise" or "to look down on."
French Twist: "Revilir" itself is made of two parts: "re-" meaning "again" or "back," and "vil" which meant "lowly" or "wretched."
English Borrows: Sometime in the 14th century, English borrowed "revilir" and turned it into "revile."
Meaning Sticks: The core meaning of looking down on someone with contempt stayed the same when it came to English.
So, "revile" started as a way to describe how someone might treat someone else they considered beneath them, and it stuck around to describe harsh criticism in general.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Revile
While there aren't common phrases built directly with "revile," here are some options that capture similar ideas using the word or synonyms:
Revile someone with (adjective): This emphasises the intensity of the criticism. For example, "He was reviled with** utter contempt** by his former colleagues."
To be held in revile: This means to be generally disliked and criticised. "The dictator was held in revile by the people he oppressed."
A tirade of revilement: This describes a long and angry outburst of criticism. "The politician launched into a tirade of revilement against his opponent."
Here are some idioms that capture similar themes of harsh criticism:
To rip someone to shreds: This implies a very critical and merciless attack.
To throw someone under the bus: This means to blame someone else for your own mistakes.
To drag someone through the mud: This refers to publicly attacking someone's reputation.
To take someone to the cleaners: This implies a thorough and merciless verbal attack.
Posts Related to Revile
Source Information
Definition of revile from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
