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.
Expostulation against this breaking of the boycott by the Mahatma himself was in vain.
From Time Magazine Archive
Expostulation was unavailing, and the minister ascended to the pulpit in his coloured clothes!
From Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey by Cottle, Joseph
Expostulation was useless; and with a heavy heart they were obliged to leave Lha-Ssa, in company of fifteen Chinese soldiers, under the command of the Mandarin Ly-Kouo-Ngan—alias, Ly, the Pacifier of kingdoms!
From The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852 by Various
As a mournful Valediction, before I enter upon any new Scene, the Reader will pardon this melancholy Expostulation.
From Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Defoe, Daniel
Then followed Truth and Expostulation, which, according to the poet himself, did much towards diverting his melancholy thoughts.
From English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction by Coppee, Henry
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.
