flagellant
[flaj-uh-luh nt, fluh-jel-uh nt]
- a person who flagellates or scourges himself or herself for religious discipline.
- a person who derives sexual pleasure from whipping or being whipped by another person.
- (often initial capital letter) one of a medieval European sect of fanatics who practiced scourging in public.
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- flagellating.
- severely criticizing: a flagellant attack on the opposition party.
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Origin of flagellant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for flagellant
Historical Examples
"Vainglory is a sleeveless errand," murmured the spirit of the flagellant.
Under the RoseFrederic Stewart Isham
The big drummer of the Company stepped to the front; he was the flagellant.
The adventures of Kimble BentJames Cowan
If I was a Flagellant now, I would don hairshirt and up flail.
For the Term of His Natural LifeMarcus Clarke
He had given up a high position at the papal court to lead the life of a flagellant and barefooted friar.
History of the Jews, Vol. IV (of VI)Heinrich Graetz
And with a flagellant's pleasure the patient nurses this fire of fever, till it flames up in a bright blaze.
mile VerhaerenStefan Zweig
flagellant
flagellator (ˈflædʒɪˌleɪtə)
- a person who whips himself or others either as part of a religious penance or for sexual gratification
- (often capital) (in medieval Europe) a member of a religious sect who whipped themselves in public
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin flagellāre to whip, from flagellum
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for flagellant
n.
late 16c., from Latin flagellantem (nominative flagellans), present participle of flagellare "to scourge, lash" (see flagellum).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper