obloquy
UK[ˈɒbləkwi]US[ˈɑːbləkwi]
n
strong public criticism or verbal abuse.
n
disgrace, bad repute, or blame resulting from such criticism.
Etymology
the word 'obloquy' entered english in the late middle english period, borrowed directly from the latin term 'obloquium', which means "contradiction" or "speaking against." this latin noun is derived from the verb 'obloqui', meaning "to speak against," which itself is a compound of 'ob-' (against) and 'loqui' (to speak). the semantic journey is direct and logical: from the literal act of speaking against someone, the meaning evolved to encompass the resulting state of censure and disgrace. it retains this dual sense of both the act of abusive speech and the consequent shame.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from latin. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.
Examples
the politician faced widespread obloquy after the scandal was exposed.
he bore the obloquy of his actions with a stoic silence.
her research, though later vindicated, initially brought her much obloquy from her peers.