/ ˈflædʒəleɪt; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to whip yourself or sb else, especially as a religious punishment or as a way of experiencing sexual pleasure
► fla·gel·la·tion / ˌflædʒəˈleɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Latin flagellat- whipped, from flagellare .