Pasquinade / noun / pas·quin·ade

Pasquinade is actually an obsolete term that is rarely used in modern language. We used pasquinade as a noun in reference to satirical writing and a harsh form of satire directed at specific individuals. In addition, people used the word pasquinade for libelous slander.

A pasquinade contains information that is often untrue and intended to poke fun at its subject or ruin targeted people's reputations. In today's language, we would call a pasquinade “public slander.”

Pasquinade has ties to a famous mutilated statue with a similar name that was displayed by the cardinal of Rome in the 15th century. Our definition for pasquinade today relates to slander, satire, and foul humor.

In a Sentence

Pasquinades of anxious reports waited to pounce on the convicted felons outside the courthouse after the judge found them guilty during the trial.

They posted the pasquinades online so everyone following the account could read the backstory.

Pasquinades of circulating gossip followed the politician everywhere he went on the campaign trail.

Etymology

The word pasquinade has been in our language since the 1500s. The term has origins in the French language to describe libelous public lampoons akin to what would be called “slander” today. We started using pasquinade in 1658 as a word for satirical writing. It is derived from Middle French and Italian regarding the posting of lampoons in Rome. Pasquinade also has historical links to the famous Roman statue of a mutilated figure that the Cardinal of Rome displayed in the early 15th century.

Synonym

Lampoon, Satire

Antonym

Unsarcastic, Good Humor