objurgation

noun

ob·​jur·​ga·​tion ˌäb-jər-ˈgā-shən 

: a harsh rebuke

objurgate

ˈäb-jər-ˌgāt 

transitive verb

objurgatory

əb-ˈjər-gə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

Objurgation traces to the 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.

Synonyms

• censure
• commination
• condemnation
• denunciation
• excoriation
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• reproof
• riot act
• stricture

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

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!