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expostulation

[ik-spos-chuh-ley-shuh n]
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noun
  1. the act of expostulating; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest: In spite of my expostulations, he insisted on driving me home.
  2. an expostulatory remark or address.
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Origin of expostulation

1580–90; < Latin expostulātiōn- (stem of expostulātiō) complaint. See expostulate, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for expostulation

criticism, complaint, demur, challenge, protest, protestation, remonstration, remonstrance, demurral, dissuasion

Examples from the Web for expostulation

Historical Examples of expostulation

  • Finding his struggles useless, he resorted to expostulation.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • I will hear no pleas, I will receive no letter, nor expostulation.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • There was no touch of expostulation in the voice with which she answered him.

    The Market-Place

    Harold Frederic

  • For three days they besieged Ivan with expostulation, incredulity, persuasion.

    The Genius

    Margaret Horton Potter

  • He wasted few words in inquiry, still fewer in expostulation.

    Follow My leader

    Talbot Baines Reed

Word Origin and History for expostulation

n.

1580s, from Latin expostulationem (nominative expostulatio), noun of action from past participle stem of expostulare (see expostulate).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper