The Collaborative International Dictionary
Opprobrious \Op*pro"bri*ous\, a. [L. opprobriosus, fr. opprobrium. See Opprobrium.]
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Expressive of opprobrium; attaching disgrace; reproachful; scurrilous; as, opprobrious language.
They . . . vindicate themselves in terms no less opprobrious than those by which they are attacked.
--Addison. -
Infamous; despised; rendered hateful; as, an opprobrious name.
This dark, opprobrious den of shame.
--Milton. [1913 Webster] -- Op*pro"bri*ous*ly, adv. -- Op*pro"bri*ous*ness, n.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"full of reproach, intended to bring disgrace," late 14c., from Old French oprobrieus (Modern French opprobrieux), or directly from Late Latin opprobriosus, from Latin opprobare "to reproach, taunt," from ob "against" (see ob-) + probrum "reproach, infamy." Etymological sense is "disgrace attached to conduct considered shameful." Related: Opprobriously; opprobriousness.
Wiktionary
a. 1 Of or relating to opprobrium. 2 Tending to cause opprobrium.
WordNet
adj. expressing offensive reproach [syn: abusive, insulting, scornful, scurrilous]
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame; "Man...has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands"- Rachel Carson; "an ignominious retreat"; "inglorious defeat"; "an opprobrious monument to human greed"; "a shameful display of cowardice" [syn: black, disgraceful, ignominious, inglorious, shameful]
Usage examples of "opprobrious".
Another alderman, Nicholas Exton, of Queenhithe Ward, had recently been removed from his aldermancy for opprobrious words used to Northampton during his first mayoralty.
Two strangers had come into this peaceful town and had absolutely quarrelled with sticks and whips in the street, calling each other opprobrious names.
Partridge now waxed wroth: he called the poor cripple by several vile and opprobrious names, and was absolutely proceeding to beat him, but Jones would not suffer any such thing: and now, telling the fellow he would certainly find some opportunity of serving him, Mr.
At any rate, the exchange of ancestrally opprobrious language became very brisk.
Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, Arraying, covered from his Father's sight.
All the time he kept on treasuring with condign satisfaction each and every crumb of trektalk, covetous of his neighbour's word, and if ever, during a Munda conversazione commoted in the nation's interest, delicate tippits were thrown out to him touching his evil courses by some wellwishers, vainly pleading by scriptural arguments with the opprobrious papist about trying to brace up for the kidos of the thing, Scally wag, and be a men instead of a dem scrounger, dish it all, such as: Pray, what is the meaning, sousy, of that continental expression, if you ever came acrux it, we think it is a word transpiciously like canaille?
Adams said later that he and his fellow counsel in consequence “heard our names execrated in the most opprobrious terms whenever we appeared in the streets.
Dirty and torn clothes, no hint of money to attract unwanted attention in the Fenn, but not so fouled as to attract the opprobrious wrath of travellers in The Crow, where she had started her journey.
With those final reminders of their opprobrious rout ringing in their ears, the Lord Holders continued down the Fort road to the nearest border post.
The distance was but short, yet I found it over-long, which is not wonderful considering that the people stopped to line up as I went by and to cast upon me a shower of opprobrious derision - for Toulouse was a very faithful and loyal city.