flagellant
a person who flagellates or scourges their own body 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.
severely criticizing: a flagellant attack on the opposition party.
Origin of flagellant
1Other words from flagellant
- flag·el·lant·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use flagellant in a sentence
They speak as if he's getting up a sort of union, something like those Flagellants—sects, that's the name!
Mother | Maksim GorkyAs a special outgrowth of this contempt of the body we have the disgusting discipline of the flagellants and other ascetics.
A sect of fanatics, called the Flagellants, arose and wandered over all parts of Europe.
Life of Edward the Black Prince | Louise CreightonIll-educated Antipodes views mankind only as excoriators of his back, and general flagellants.
Mount Rainier | VariousThere is no lack of dramatic elements, for the horrors of plague, hanging, flagellants and execution are shown upon the stage.
August Strindberg, the Spirit of Revolt | L. (Lizzy) Lind-af-Hageby
British Dictionary definitions for flagellant
flagellator (ˈflædʒɪˌleɪtə)
/ (ˈflædʒɪlənt, fləˈdʒɛlənt) /
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
Origin of flagellant
1Derived forms of flagellant
- flagellantism, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse