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upbraid

[uhp-breyd]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to find fault with or reproach severely; censure: The military tribunal upbraided the soldier for his cowardice.
  2. (of things) to bring reproach on; serve as a reproach to.
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verb (used without object)
  1. Archaic. to utter reproaches.
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Origin of upbraid

before 1000; Middle English; Old English upbrēdan to adduce as a fault. See up-, braid
Related formsup·braid·er, nounun·up·braid·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. reprove, blame.

Synonym study

1. See reprimand.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for upbraid

Historical Examples

  • The stranger at once began to upbraid Powell for being impolite.

    Welsh Fairy Tales

    William Elliott Griffis

  • Upbraid me with the loss of all of which you have bereft me.

  • But conscience has not to upbraid me with any of these things.

    Concerning Cats

    Helen M. Winslow

  • At this, the Leaflanders only paused long enough to upbraid the young woman.

  • None confers a benefit so gladly, none is so slow to upbraid.

British Dictionary definitions for upbraid

upbraid

verb (tr)
  1. to reprove or reproach angrily
  2. to find fault with
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Derived Formsupbraider, nounupbraiding, nounupbraidingly, adverb

Word Origin

Old English upbregdan; related to Danish bebreide; see up, braid
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

Word Origin and History for upbraid

v.

Old English upbregdan "bring forth as a ground for censure," from up "up" + bregdan "move quickly, intertwine" (see braid (v.)). Cf. Middle Swedish upbrygdha. Meaning "scold" is first attested late 13c. Related: Upbraided; upbraiding.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper