scold
[skohld]
- to find fault with angrily; chide; reprimand: The teacher scolded me for being late.
- to find fault; reprove.
- to use abusive language.
- a person who is constantly scolding, often with loud and abusive speech.
- common scold.
Origin of scold
1150–1200; (noun) Middle English, variant of scald < Old Norse skald poet (as author of insulting poems); see skald; (v.) Middle English scolden, derivative of the noun
Synonyms
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com1. reprove; censure. See reproach.
Antonyms
1. praise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for scold
Contemporary Examples
And then I wonder if I would be such a scold with my patients about any other issue.
Given a choice between the scoundrel and the scold, who might the people go for?
The invitation from Peter Orlovsky provided an opportunity for her to scold Ginsberg once again.
Before you scold me: I know how famous Higgins is, and how important she was.
Murray is right to worry about that separation—even if his only use of his correct perception is to scold.
Historical Examples
"I'm not going to scold you, you silly little kitten," said the aunt cheerfully.
The Incomplete AmoristE. Nesbit
Do you think I want to scold her; do you think I want to humble her?
The Incomplete AmoristE. Nesbit
Shall I have to scold my coadjutor, or to reason with an intellect like this?
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
"I sent for him to scold him," continued Orlando with a smile.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
How would you have me scold him when he weeps over it all with me?
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
scold
- to find fault with or reprimand (a person) harshly; chide
- (intr) to use harsh or abusive language
- a person, esp a woman, who constantly finds fault
Word Origin
C13: from Old Norse skald
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for scold
n.
mid-12c., "person of ribald speech," later "person fond of abusive language" (c.1300), especially a shrewish woman [Johnson defines it as "A clamourous, rude, mean, low, foul-mouthed woman"], from Old Norse skald "poet" (see skald). The sense evolution might reflect the fact that Germanic poets (like their Celtic counterparts) were famously feared for their ability to lampoon and mock (e.g. skaldskapr "poetry," also, in Icelandic law books, "libel in verse").
v.
late 14c., "be abusive or quarrelsome," from scold (n.). Related: Scolded; scolding.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper