fulmination

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

fulmination
    n 1: thunderous verbal attack [syn: {fulmination}, {diatribe}]
    2: the act of exploding with noise and violence; "his
       fulminations frightened the horses"

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Fulmination \Ful"mi*na`tion\, n. [L. fulminatio a darting of
   lightning: cf. F. fulmination.]
   1. The act of fulminating or exploding; detonation.
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   2. The act of thundering forth threats or censures, as with
      authority.
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   3. That which is fulminated or thundered forth; vehement
      menace or censure.
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            The fulminations from the Vatican were turned into
            ridicule.                             --Ayliffe.
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