15 January 2008

"vitriol"...

def: vit·ri·ol [vi-tree-uhl]
noun, verb, -oled, -ol·ing or (especially British) -olled, -ol·ling.
–noun
1. Chemistry. any of certain metallic sulfates of glassy appearance, as copper sulfate or blue vitriol, iron sulfate or green vitriol, zinc sulfate or white vitriol, etc.
2. oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.
3. something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.

–verb (used with object)
4. to treat with or as with vitriol, esp. sulfuric acid.

figrative: cruel and bitter criticism

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME [Origin: 1350–1400; ME < ML vitriolum, vitreolum, equiv. to L vitre(us) vitreous + -olum, neut. of -olus -ole1]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)

I am to the point where I find myself tuning out people like Andrew Sullivan and Chris Matthews because of what is appearing to be a personal vitriolic hatred of Hillary and Bill Clinton. Sullivan and Matthews are just the most prominent; there are many others. It's to the point that they should consider taking some sort of medication before they give themselves a stroke or heart attack.

I also wonder if they realize that they are not "reporting" but have gone beyond being part of the fourth estate and are actually influencing people by spewing the things that they say?

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