Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “scourge” come from?

Scourge comes from French escorgier, from Latin excorrigiare, a compound of ex- and a verb related to rego meaning to guide or direct.

scourge (English): A source of persistent trouble such as pestilence...

Definitions

  1. A source of persistent trouble such as pestilence...

Ancestry of “scourge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchescorgier—
2Vulgar Latin*excorrigiō—
3Latincorrigiashoelace, tie, thong for securing shoes to feet;...
4Latincorrigō—
5Latincōn-—
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “scourge”

  • scourgeth
  • scourger
  • scourgest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →