scourge
[ skurj ]
/ skɜrdʒ /
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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.
OTHER WORDS FOR scourge
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM scourge
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use scourge in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for scourge
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 forms of scourge
scourger, nounWord 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
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