The Autumnal Equinox falls on the 22nd of September, over a week away. I already have numerous family members in this house, and as I’m sure happens at your house during the holidays, people are rubbing each other the wrong way.
There have been a few thrown mugs, one bout of fisticuffs, and plenty of harsh words. And that was just this morning before breakfast. Which brings me to today’s word.
Vituperate is a verb which means to rebuke or criticize harshly or abusively; berate; to find fault with; to scold; to overwhelm with wordy abuse; to censure severely or abusively.
It is derived from the Latin vituperatus (past participle of vituperare), which is from vitium meaning fault plus parare meaning to make, prepare.
First used in the early 1500’s, vituperate is synonymous with vilify, censure, and berate. One who vituperates is a vituperator and it must be said that there has been an enormous amount of vituperation in this house this week.
I just hope that this old home can withstand another week of familial unrest before the equinox. And I hope this old man can withstand it. I refuse to walk through my house with a helmet on. But safety first, my dears, safety first.
