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definitions

scourge

[ skurj ]
/ skɜrdʒ /
||

noun

a whip or lash, especially for the infliction of punishment or torture.
a person or thing that applies or administers punishment or severe criticism.
a cause of affliction or calamity: Disease and famine are scourges of humanity.

verb (used with object), scourged, scourg·ing.

to whip with a scourge; lash.
to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.

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Nearby words

  1. scotus,
  2. scoundrel,
  3. scoundrelly,
  4. scour,
  5. scourer,
  6. scouring pad,
  7. scouring rush,
  8. scourings,
  9. scouse,
  10. scout

Origin of scourge

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French escorge, derivative of escorgier to whip < Vulgar Latin *excorrigiāre, derivative of Latin corrigia thong, whip (see ex-1); (v.) Middle English < Old French escorgier
SYNONYMS FOR scourge
3 plague, bane.
5 correct, castigate.
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scourger

British Dictionary definitions for scourger

scourge

/ (skɜːdʒ) /

noun

a person who harasses, punishes, or causes destruction
a means of inflicting punishment or suffering
a whip used for inflicting punishment or torture

verb (tr)

to whip; flog
to punish severely
Derived Formsscourger, noun

Word Origin for scourge

C13: from Anglo-French escorge, from Old French escorgier (unattested) to lash, from es- ex- 1 + Latin corrigia whip
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