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Objurgation Latin Formed Legal Harsh December Noun Ahb Jer Gay Shun

Objurgation is the act of giving a harsh rebuke or scolding. Despite its roots in Latin words for legal disputes, it simply means severe criticism.

Objurgation is a noun for a harsh rebuke or scolding. It comes from Latin roots related to quarreling and legal disputes, but simply means severe criticism.

Word objurgation
Date December 10, 2016
Type noun
Syllables ahb-jer-GAY-shun
Etymology 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.
Examples "I had early formed my opinion of him; and, in spite of Miss Murray's objurgations, was fully convinced that he was a man of strong sense, firm faith, and ardent piety, but thoughtful and stern." — Anne Brontë, Agnes Grey, 1847

"It always amazes me to sit at a sporting event and hear members of the audience shout objurgations at a pro player who has just dropped a ball or made some other error." — R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., The New York Sun, 25 Apr. 2003
Definition : a harsh rebuke

Tags: wordoftheday::noun

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