scathe

American  

[skeyth] / skeɪð /

verb (used with object)

scathed, scathing

1. to attack with severe criticism.

2. to hurt, harm, or injure, as by scorching.

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noun

1. hurt, harm, or injury.

scathe British  

/ skeɪð /

verb

1. rare to attack with severe criticism

2. archaic to injure

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noun

1. archaic harm

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scatheless
  adjective
• scathelessly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of scathe

before 1000; (noun) Middle English scath ( e ), scade, schath ( e ) < Old Norse skathi damage, harm, cognate with Old English sc ( e ) atha malefactor, injury (with which the Middle English forms with sch- might be identified); (v.) Middle English scath ( e ), skath ( e ) < Old Norse skatha, cognate with Old English sceathian

Explanation

To scathe is to obliterate something as if you'd burned it to ashes — or to direct ferocious, fiery disapproval or anger in the direction of a person. The verb scathe is pretty old-fashioned; these days you're more likely to encounter the adjectives scathing and unscathed. The word derives from a root meaning "to harm or injure," and it was once used in both a literal and figurative way. Long ago, you might have scathed your old love letters by burning them in the fireplace, and then scathed your sister by telling her to get lost when she asked what you were doing.

Example Sentences

Scathe and shame, and a waefu' name,   And a weary time and strange, Have they that seeing a weird for dreeing   Can die, and cannot change.

From Lyra Heroica A Book of Verse for Boys by Various

While in exile Wuldor takes Woden's place and name, and Woden lives on earth, part of the time at least, with Scathe Thiasse's daughter, who had parted from Niord.

From The Danish History, Books I-IX by Saxo, Grammaticus

Since that we from them parted / hath any dared to do Scathe to my lady's kinsmen?

From The Nibelungenlied Translated into Rhymed English Verse in the Metre of the Original by Needler, George Henry

Scath, Scathe, skāth, n. damage, injury: waste.—v.t. to injure.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Jagged clouds hanging Formless and black, Hurtle the whirlwind Fast o'er their track; Fiery flashes Scathe the green plain; Cataracts falling In torrents of rain.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 3, March, 1864 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various