— flagellantism , n.
/flaj"euh leuhnt, fleuh jel"euhnt/ , n.
1. a person who flagellates or scourges himself or herself for religious discipline.
2. a person who derives sexual pleasure from whipping or being whipped by another person.
3. ( often cap. ) one of a medieval European sect of fanatics who practiced scourging in public.
adj.
4. flagellating.
5. severely criticizing: a flagellant attack on the opposition party.
[ 1555-65; flagellant- (s. of flagellans ) whipping, prp. of flagellare. See FLAGELLUM, -ANT ]