scourge
- 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.
- to whip with a scourge; lash.
- to punish, chastise, or criticize severely.
Origin of scourge
Synonyms
See more synonyms for scourge on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for scourging
Historical Examples
Our soil yet reddening with the stains,Caught from her scourging, warm and fresh!
The Liberty MinstrelGeorge W. Clark
Scourging was a frightful preliminary to death on the cross.
Jesus the ChristJames Edward Talmage
The stout, healthy boy took the scourging without an outcry.
The Wedding RingT. De Witt Talmage
Yet has he committed no offence that condemns him either to scourging or the prison.
AurelianWilliam Ware
I had fallen into the net, and was not to leave it till the scourging had been given.
MoodsLouisa May Alcott
scourge
- a person who harasses, punishes, or causes destruction
- a means of inflicting punishment or suffering
- a whip used for inflicting punishment or torture
- to whip; flog
- to punish severely
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for scourging
scourge
n.
c.1200, "a whip, lash," from Anglo-French escorge, back-formation from Old French escorgier "to whip," from Vulgar Latin *excorrigiare, from Latin ex- "out, off" (see ex-) + corrigia "thong, shoelace," in this case "whip," probably from a Gaulish word related to Old Irish cuimrech "fetter," from PIE root *reig- "to bind" (see rig (v.)). Figurative use from late 14c. Scourge of God, title given by later generations to Attila the Hun (406-453 C.E.), is attested from late 14c., from Latin flagellum Dei.
scourge
v.
c.1300, "to whip," from Old French escorgier and from scourge (n.). Figurative meaning "to afflict" (often for the sake of punishment or purification) is from late 14c. Related: Scourged; scourging.