harangue

Etymology

From Middle English arang and French harangue, from Old Italian aringa (modern Italian arringa) from aringare (“speak in public”) (modern Italian arringare), from aringo (“public assembly”), from Gothic *𐌷𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌲𐍃 (*hriggs), akin to Old High German hring (“ring”) (whence German Ring).

noun

1. An impassioned, disputatious public speech.
2. A tirade, harsh scolding or rant, whether spoken or written.
   She gave her son a harangue about the dangers of playing in the street.
   The priest took thirty minutes to deliver his harangue on timeliness, making the entire service run late.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To give a forceful and lengthy lecture or criticism to someone.
   The angry motorist leapt from his car to harangue the other driver.
   It's a tradition that when you harangue the multitudes, you stand on a soapbox. Jul 7 1993, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic)