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castigate

[ kas-ti-geyt ]
/ ˈkæs tɪˌgeɪt /
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See synonyms for: castigate / castigating / castigation / castigator on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), cas·ti·gat·ed, cas·ti·gat·ing.
to criticize or reprimand severely.
to punish in order to correct.
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Origin of castigate

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin castīgātus literally, “driven to be faultless” (past participle of castigāre “to chasten”), equivalent to cast(us) “pure, clean” + -īg-, combining form of agere “to drive, incite” + -ātus past participle suffix;see chaste, -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM castigate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use castigate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for castigate

castigate
/ (ˈkæstɪˌɡeɪt) /

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

Derived forms of castigate

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
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