scourged Definition

scourge
noun

1. A cause of great suffering and affliction, especially to many people.

Example: Cancer is the scourge of Western society
Thesaurus: punishment, affliction, bane, curse, doom, torment, visitation; Antonym: benefit, blessing.
2. A whip used for punishing.

Thesaurus: whip, cat-o'-nine-tails.
3. Someone or something that is an instrument of divine punishment.

verb scourged, scourging

1. To cause suffering to; to afflict.

Thesaurus: castigate, punish, chastise, penalize, discipline.
2. To whip.

Thesaurus: flog, beat, thrash, flail, lash, horsewhip, whip.

Derivative: scourger
noun

Etymology: 13c: from French escorge, from Latin excoriare to flay.