1 objurgate | Definition of objurgate

objurgation

noun
ob·​jur·​ga·​tion | \ ˌäb-jər-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce objurgation (audio) \

Definition of objurgation

: a harsh rebuke

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Other Words from objurgation

objurgate \ ˈäb-​jər-​ˌgāt How to pronounce objurgate (audio) \ transitive verb
objurgatory \ əb-​ˈjər-​gə-​ˌtȯr-​ē How to pronounce objurgatory (audio) \ adjective

Did You Know?

Objurgation traces to Latin objurgare ("to scold or blame"), which was formed from "ob-" ("against") and "jurgare" ("to quarrel" or, literally, "to take to law" - in other words, "to bring a lawsuit"). "Jur-" in Latin means law, and there are several English words related to "objurgation" that have legal implications, including "perjury," "abjure," "jurisprudence," and even "injury." But despite its etymological connection to the law, the word objurgation carries no legal weight. It refers to nothing more than an unusually harsh or severe scolding.

Examples of objurgation in a Sentence

particularly humiliating for the general was the White House's objurgation of his misguided and unauthorized attempt at enunciating foreign policy

First Known Use of objurgation

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for objurgation

Middle English objurgacyon, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French objurgacion, borrowed from Latin objūrgātiōn-, objūrgātiō, from objūrgāre "to reprove, rebuke, find fault with" (from ob- "against" + jūrgāre, jūrigāre "to quarrel, wrangle, utter reproaches," from jūr-, jūs "law, right, prerogative" + -igāre, causative and factitive suffix) + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at ob-, just entry 1, fumigate

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More from Merriam-Webster on objurgation

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for objurgation