I. fə̇ˈlipik, -pēk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French philippique, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin ( orationes ) philippicae, speeches of the Greek orator Demosthenes died 322 B.C. against Philip II died 336 B.C. king of Macedon and speeches of the Roman orator Cicero died 43 B.C. against Mark Anthony died 30 B.C. Roman orator, triumvir, and soldier, from Latin, feminine plural of philippicus of Philip, from Greek philippikos of or against Philip; Greek philippikoi ( logoi ), speeches of Demosthenes against Philip II, from masculine plural of philippikos of Philip, from Philippos Philip + -ikos -ic
: a discourse or declamation full of acrimonious invective : tirade
a philippic so withering that it roused a lethargic Senate — S.H.Adams
II. adjective
obsolete : characterized by acrimony : abusive