definitions

castigate

[ kas-ti-geyt ]
/ ˈkæs tɪˌgeɪt /
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verb (used with object), cas·ti·gat·ed, cas·ti·gat·ing.

to criticize or reprimand severely.
to punish in order to correct.

RELATED WORDS

penalize, criticize, pummel, chastise, excoriate, scold, censure, berate, upbraid, lambaste, rebuke, reprimand, lash, punish, flog, blister, discipline, cane, chasten, scourge

Nearby words

castelo branco, castelvetro, caster, caster action, caster sugar, castigate, castiglione, castile, castile soap, castilho, castilian

Origin of castigate

1600–10; < Latin castīgātus literally, driven to be faultless (past participle of castigāre to chasten), equivalent to cast(us) pure, chaste + -īg-, combining form of agere to drive, incite + -ātus -ate1

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for castigate

British Dictionary definitions for castigate

castigate

/ (ˈkæstɪˌɡeɪt) /

verb

(tr) to rebuke or criticize in a severe manner; chastise

Derived Forms

castigation, nouncastigator, nouncastigatory, adjective

Word Origin for castigate

C17: from Latin castīgāre to correct, punish, from castum pure + agere to compel (to be)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012