expostulation

[ik-spos-chuh-ley-shuh n]

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.

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. 2019

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

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