English Lexicon

Chastise

/ˈtʃæs.taɪz/
verbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #2500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To reprimand or scold someone severely.

    "The teacher decided to chastise the students for their disruptive behavior during the lesson."
  2. 2

    To inflict punishment on someone as a means of correction.

    "In ancient times, parents would chastise their children to instill discipline."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'chastise' originates from the Middle English 'chastisen', derived from the Old French 'chastier', which in turn comes from the Latin 'castigare', meaning 'to punish or correct'. Over time, its meaning has evolved to encompass both physical punishment and moral correction.

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