English Meaning & Definitions
To rebuke or reprimand someone angrily or severely.
- “The teacher had to scold the students for talking during the exam.”
- “She scolded her dog for chewing on the expensive leather shoes.”
A person, historically often a woman, who habitually uses abusive or argumentative language.
- “In the village square, the town scold was known for shouting at passersby.”
- “The play depicts a classic scold who is eventually tamed by her husband.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “scold”.
Derived from the Middle English 'scolden', originating from the Old Norse 'skald' (poet). Historically, a 'scold' referred to a person, typically a woman, who habitually used abusive language. The meaning shifted from the person who speaks abusively to the act of rebuking someone angrily.
Think of a 'cold' shoulder: when you scold someone, you are being harsh and cold toward them.
Frequently Asked Questions About “scold”
1. What is the meaning of “scold” in English?
In English, scold (verb) is defined as: “To rebuke or reprimand someone angrily or severely.”.
2. How do you use “scold” in a sentence?
“The teacher had to scold the students for talking during the exam.”
3. What are English synonyms of “scold”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “scold”?
Derived from the Middle English 'scolden', originating from the Old Norse 'skald' (poet). Historically, a 'scold' referred to a person, typically a woman, who habitually used abusive language. The meaning shifted from the person who speaks abusively to the act of rebuking someone angrily.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.