What does "scourge" mean?
Scourge: Hence, a means of inflicting punishment, vengeance, or suffering; an infliction of affliction; a punishment. Sharp scourges of adversity. Chaucer. What scourge for perjury Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence Shak.
Additional senses
- 2.To whip severely; to lash. is it lawful for you to scourge a . . . Roman Acts xxii.
- 3.2. To punish with severity; to chastise; to afflict, as for sins or faults, and with the purpose of correction. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb. xii.
- 4.3. To harass or afflict severely. To scourge and impoverish the people. Brougham.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00