What does scourge mean?

Definitions for scourge
skɜrdʒscourge

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word scourge.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. scourge, flagellumnoun

    a whip used to inflict punishment (often used for pedantic humor)

  2. bane, curse, scourge, nemesisnoun

    something causing misery or death

    "the bane of my life"

  3. terror, scourge, threatverb

    a person who inspires fear or dread

    "he was the terror of the neighborhood"

  4. scourgeverb

    punish severely; excoriate

  5. flagellate, scourgeverb

    whip

    "The religious fanatics flagellated themselves"

  6. lay waste to, waste, devastate, desolate, ravage, scourgeverb

    cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

    "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion"

Wiktionary

  1. scourgenoun

    A persistent pest, illness, or source of trouble, (figurative) cause of suffering to people.

    Graffiti is the scourge of building owners everywhere.

  2. scourgenoun

    A whip often of leather.

    He flogged him with a scourge.

  3. scourgeverb

    To strike with a scourge.

  4. Etymology: From Old French escorgier, from Vulgar Latin excorrigiāre, consisting of ex- + corrigia

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. SCOURGEnoun

    Etymology: escourgee, French; scoreggia, Italian; corrigia, Latin.

    When he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple. Jo. ii. 15.

    The scourge
    Inexorable, and the torturing hour,
    Calls us to penance. John Milton.

    What scourge for perjury
    Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence? William Shakespeare.

    See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
    That heav’n finds means to kill your joys with love. William Shakespeare.

    Famine and plague are sent as scourges for amendment. 2 Esd.

    Is this the scourge of France?
    Is this the Talbot so much fear’d abroad,
    That with his name the mothers still their babes? William Shakespeare, H. VI.

    Such conquerors are not the favourites, but scourges of God, the instruments of that vengeance. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

    In all these trials I have born a part;
    I was myself the scourge that caus’d the smart. Alexander Pope.

    Immortal Jove,
    Let kings no more with gentle mercy sway,
    Or bless a people willing to obey,
    But crush the nations with an iron rod,
    And every monarch be the scourge of God. Alexander Pope.

    If they had a top, the scourge stick and leather strap should be left to their own making. John Locke.

  2. To Scourgeverb

    Etymology: from the noun.

    The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
    Make instruments to scourge us. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

    Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings. Hebr.

    Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman, and uncondemned? Acts xxii. 25.

    He scourg’d with many a stroke the indignant waves. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

    When a professor of any religion is set up to be laughed at, this cannot help us to judge of the truth of his faith, any better than if he were scourged. Isaac Watts.

    Seeing that thou hast been scourged from heaven, declare the mighty power of God. 2 Mac. iii. 34.

    He doth scourge, and hath mercy. Tob. iii. 2.

    He will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy again. Tob. xiii. 5.

Wikipedia

  1. Scourge

    A scourge is a whip or lash, especially a multi-thong type, used to inflict severe corporal punishment or self-mortification. It is usually made of leather.

ChatGPT

  1. scourge

    A scourge is a thing or person that causes great trouble, suffering or devastation. It can also refer to a whip or lash, particularly one used for punishment or torture. In general, it represents a means of inflicting severe suffering, punishment, or distress.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Scourgenoun

    a lash; a strap or cord; especially, a lash used to inflict pain or punishment; an instrument of punishment or discipline; a whip

  2. Scourgenoun

    hence, a means of inflicting punishment, vengeance, or suffering; an infliction of affliction; a punishment

  3. Scourgenoun

    to whip severely; to lash

  4. Scourgenoun

    to punish with severity; to chastise; to afflict, as for sins or faults, and with the purpose of correction

  5. Scourgenoun

    to harass or afflict severely

  6. Etymology: [From Scourge, n.: cf. OF. escorgier.]

Wikidata

  1. Scourge

    A scourge is a whip or lash, especially a multi-thong type, used to inflict severe corporal punishment or self-mortification on the back.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Scourge

    skurj, n. a whip made of leather thongs: an instrument of punishment: a punishment: means of punishment.—v.t. to whip severely: to punish in order to correct.—n. Scour′ger, a flagellant. [O. Fr. escorgie (Fr. écourgée)—L. (scutia) excoriata, (a whip) made of leather—corium, leather.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. scourge

    A name of the boatswain's cat.

Matched Categories

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of scourge in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of scourge in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of scourge in a Sentence

  1. Pope Francis:

    May it be possible for bridges of dialogue to be built, by continuing to fight the scourge of corruption and to seek viable and peaceful solutions to disputes, for progress and the strengthening of democratic institutions in complete respect for the rule of law.

  2. Meredith Kelly:

    F. senator Gillibrand proudly earned an' F' rating from The NRA a decade ago, and has been a passionate advocate for critical reforms to address the scourge of gun violence across our country ever since.

  3. Tom Ridge:

    Remember back then we thought about al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and a few other places? well, we've seen al Qaeda metastasize. It is now a global scourge. And you have the ascendancy of ISIL. The combination of those two groups -- their appeal to the lone wolfs and we see them acting in Belgium and in France and in Canada and the United States so the threat factors and the nature of the threats are far more complicated and far more serious today than on September 12, 2001.

  4. President Barack Obama:

    We all have a responsibility to ensure the security, the prosperity and the human rights of our citizens, we are here today because we are united against the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism.

  5. Lori Lightfoot:

    The federal government remains uniquely qualified to help address the scourge of gun violence, we need these additional resources well in advance of next summer.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for scourge

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"scourge." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/scourge>.

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