v. & n.
--v.tr.
1. poet. injure esp. by blasting or withering.
2 (as scathing adj.) witheringly scornful (scathing sarcasm).
3 (with neg.) do the least harm to (shall not be scathed) (cf. UNSCATHED).
--n. (usu. with neg.) archaic harm; injury (without scathe).
Derivatives:
scatheless predic.adj. scathingly adv.
Etymology: (v.) ME f. ON skatha OE sceathian: (n.) OE f. ON skathi OE sceatha malefactor, injury, f. Gmc