scourge English · revision 1183

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /skɜːd͡ʒ/ ''(UK)''; /skɜɹd͡ʒ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''scurge'', ''scourge'',^(Barnhart 1995) [[der|xno|escorge]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old French ''escorgier'' “to whip”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-vul|*excorrigiare]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|la|ex-|corrigia|t2=thong, shoelace]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) ''Corrigia'' is probably from Gaulish,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to Old Irish ''cuimrech'' “fetter”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb is essentially a doublet of [[excoriate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A whip or lash (probably before 1200 as ''scurge'';^(Barnhart 1995) before 1225 in the OED).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the late 14th century, largely through Bible translations, the word meant a divine punishment or affliction and one who inflicts it,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) as in ''the Scourge of God'', a name given to Attila.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) It then came to mean any cause of widespread calamity, such as war or disease.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) The verb, to whip, is from about 1300,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and the figurative sense to afflict or chastise is from 1382.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – ''scurge'', a whip.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1300 – verb, to whip or flog.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – an instrument of divine punishment; to chastise.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1535 – one who lashes vice or folly.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A cause of widespread, dreadful suffering and [[devastation]], such as [[pestilence]] or war.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A means of inflicting severe punishment, [[vengeance]] or criticism.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A [[whip]] used to inflict punishment; a lash.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To afflict with widespread suffering; to [[ravage]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To punish or criticize severely; to [[excoriate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To [[flog]] with a whip.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To drive as if by blows of a whip.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scourger]]

+ * [[scourgingly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[excoriate]]

+ * [[flagellate]]

+ * [[plague]]

+ * [[bane]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''plague'' and ''bane'' as synonyms of the noun, and ''correct'' and ''castigate'' of the verb.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}