Obloquy

Obloquy is a noun that refers to a strongly condemnatory utterance. Our word of the day combines the Latin prefix O-B meaning ‘against’ with loqui (LOW kwee) which means ‘to speak.’ Obloquy may refer to a discredited condition or it may refer to an instance of verbal abuse. I accidentally ordered mustard to be put on Robert’s sandwiches, but after the obloquy he gave me, I was always careful to not make that mistake again.