Etymology Inherited from Middle English fulminaten, borrowed from Latin fulminātus, perfect passive participle of fulminō (“to lighten, hurl or strike with lightning”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fulmen (“lightning which strikes and sets on fire, thunderbolt”), from earlier *fulgmen, *fulgimen, from fulgeō, fulgō (“flash, lighten”). Doublet of fulmine. More at fulgent.
In short, the criticism which the great lexicographer fulminated against an unfortunate author, seems to have been adopted by the profession as applicable to everything under the sun […]1855, William Neilson, Mesmerism in its relation to health and disease, page 46:
To be sure, Trump has fulminated on Twitter against the judges who rebuffed him. But his tirades have earned him a reprimand––if a brief, vague one––from his own Supreme Court nominee.2017 February 15, Peter Beinart, “American Institutions Are Fighting Back Against Trump”, in The Atlantic:
They fulminated the most hostile of all decrees.1842, Thomas De Quincey, “Cicero”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine:
While they were the opposition, Democrats fulminated that the Republicans were so deep in the pockets of Big Pharma that they wouldn’t even let the government negotiate lower drug prices.2007 January 21, David Brooks, “Mr. Chips Goes to Congress”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
3
To thunder or make a loud noise.
4
Archaic To strike with lightning; to cause to explode.
the present owners couldn't afford the electric bills anymore, several amateur gaffers, sad to say, having already been fulminated trying to bootleg power in off the municipal lines.2009, Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice, Vintage, published 2010, page 235:
5
Figuratively to act as lightning, appearing quickly and destructively
Etymology From fulminic acid + -ate (“salt or ester”). By surface analysis, fulmine + -ate.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Any salt or ester of fulminic acid, mostly explosive.
On 19 February a jubilant Bigeard announced that his 3rd R.P.C. had seized eighty-seven bombs, seventy kilos of explosive, 5,120 fulminate of mercury detonators, 309 electric detonators, etc.1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 193: