scourge

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A whip, often made of leather and having multiple tails

   A whip, often made of leather and having multiple tails; a lash.

   • He flogged him with a scourge.
   • Yf they breake myne ordinaunces, and kepe not my commaundementes. I vil vyſet their offences with the rodde, and their ſynnes with ſcourges.
   • My father layd vpon you a heauie yoke, vvhich I vvil make heauier: my father bette you vvith ſcourges, but I vvil beate you vvith ſcorpions.
2. 2

   A person or thing regarded as an agent of divine punishment.

   • And therfore the faithfull had neede of inuincible conſtancie and incredible pacience, that they may know them to be gods squorges, and the inſtrumentes of his wrath, […]
   • Againe not long after this euen ſhortly after the death of Alaricus came that Flagellum Dei that ſcourge of God into Italy, Attila King of the Hunnes, and ſpoyled the country vvith maruailous hoſtility in the time of the Emperour Martian.
   • [I]f Attila equalled the hoſtile ravages of Tamerlane, either the Tartar or the Hun might deſerve the epithet of the Scourge of God.
3. 3

   A source of persistent (and often widespread) pain and suffering or trouble, such as a…

   A source of persistent (and often widespread) pain and suffering or trouble, such as a cruel ruler, disease, pestilence, or war.

   • Graffiti is the scourge of building owners everywhere.
   • Thou ominous and fearefull Ovvle of death, / Our Nations terror, and their bloody ſcourge, / The period of thy Tyranny approacheth, / On vs thou canſt not enter but by death: […]
   • [W]hat ſcourge for periury, / Can this darke monarchy afford falſe Clarence, […]
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To strike (a person, an animal, etc.) with a scourge (noun etymology 1 sense 1) or whip

      To strike (a person, an animal, etc.) with a scourge (noun etymology 1 sense 1) or whip; to flog, to whip.

      • […] I cauſed him to be brought to the Geers, vvith a Halter about his Neck, and be ſoundly vvhipp'd; and indeed our People did ſcourge him ſeverely from Head to Foot; […]
   2. 5

      To drive, or force (a person, an animal, etc.) to move, with or as if with a scourge or…

      To drive, or force (a person, an animal, etc.) to move, with or as if with a scourge or whip.

      • So judge thou ſtill, preſumptuous, till the wrauth, / Which thou incurr'ſt by flying, meet thy flight / Seavenfold, and ſcourge that wiſdom back to Hell, / Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain / Can equal anger infinite provok't.
      • Thou knowest not, and mayst thou never know, / How bitter is the tear that firy shame / Scourges and tortures from the soldier's eye.
   3. 6

      To punish (a person, an animal, etc.)

      To punish (a person, an animal, etc.); to chastise.

      • He cals vs rebels, traitors, and vvill ſcourge / VVith haughtie armes this hatefull name in vs.
      • You ſhall with rods of iron ſcourge theſe treaſons.
   4. 7

      To cause (someone or something) persistent (and often widespread) pain and suffering or…

      To cause (someone or something) persistent (and often widespread) pain and suffering or trouble; to afflict, to torment.

      • And that the Remonſtrant cannot vvaſh his hands of all the cruelties exercis'd by the Prelats, is paſt doubting. They ſcourg'd the Confeſſors of the Goſpel, and he held the Scourgers garments.
      • Thou hast, thyself, broken all laws, dissolved every tie; thou bruisest, scourgest, robbest this thy noble kingdom of England, and shall we not have at least the poor liberty to rail.
   5. 8

      Of a crop or a farmer

      Of a crop or a farmer: to deplete the fertility of (land or soil).

The neighborhood

• neighborknout
• neighborcat
• neighborcat-o'-nine-tails
• neighborcat o' nine tails