scold
- pronunciation:
- skold
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
scolded, scolding, scolds |
| definition: |
to tell someone that they have done something wrong, usually in an angry way.
The mother scolded her child for spilling her milk.- antonyms:
- praise
- similar words:
- abuse, blast, criticize
|
| derivations: |
scoldingly (adv.), scolder (n.) |
Scold probably comes from the early Norse word
skald, which means "poet." Centuries ago, the wandering poets of Scandinavia were experts at mocking and scolding in a memorable way.