n. 1 curse, misfortune, bane, evil, affliction, plague, adversity, torment, misery, woe He questions whether AIDS should be considered the scourge of the 20th century Was it Attila who proved himself the scourge of Rome? 2 whip, lash, cat-o'-nine-tails, knout, quirt, horsewhip, bull-whip They saw fit to punish themselves with scourges
v. 3 whip, flog, beat, lash, horsewhip, whale, belt, flagellate Some medieval sects scourged themselves as they went in procession through the cities 4 punish, castigate, chastise, discipline, afflict, torment In the old days, students were scourged if they made a mistake