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.
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
OTHER WORDS FROM scourge
Words nearby scourge
scotus,
scoundrel,
scoundrelly,
scour,
scourer,
scourge,
scouring pad,
scouring rush,
scourings,
scouse,
scout
Example sentences from the Web for scourge
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