expostulation
Americannoun
-
the act of expostulating; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest.
In spite of my expostulations, he insisted on driving me home.
-
an expostulatory remark or address.
Etymology
Origin of expostulation
1580–90; < Latin expostulātiōn- (stem of expostulātiō ) complaint. See expostulate, -ion
Explanation
Expostulation is an expression of protest, not a rant exactly, but often lengthy. If you have parents, you might be more familiar with the term "lecture," an expostulation on why you should never do the things you actually want to do. If you've done any geometry proofs, you know that postulate means to put forward an assumption. Expostulate means to take that assumption away. For instance you might postulate that it's a good idea for you and your friends to drive to the beach in the middle of the night, but your parents might expostulate that it's not safe.
Vocabulary lists containing expostulation
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Scarlet Letter
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"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With an expostulation of wonder, the Dalai Lama sat back and clasped his hands together.
From Slate ● Feb. 26, 2014
How do you say "a handbag"? without falling short of Dame Edith Evans's most famous expostulation?
From The Guardian ● Sep. 28, 2012
One of the London County Schools at Middle Row, Notting Hill, has apparently taken a step, the mere mention of which has produced horrified expostulation in the United States.
From Time Magazine Archive
At first glance it seemed curious that the editors of Nature bothered to print Professor Stark's expostulation at all.
From Time Magazine Archive
The circle closed up again with a running murmur of expostulation; it was a minute before I could see anything at all.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
