MENIPPEAN (satira MENIPPEA), a kind of sa-
tire consisting of prose and verse intermixed. It is thus called from Menippus a cynic philosopher who delighted in composing satirical letters, &c. In imitation of him, Varro also wrote satires under the title of Satire Menippea: whence this sort of composition is also denominated Varroian satire.
Among the moderns there is a famous piece under this title first published in 1594, against the chiefs of the league, called also the Galbolicon of Spain. It is esteemed a master-piece for the time.