Tuesday, March 15, 2011

excoriate

I have indeed been dilatory in updating this blog :) But instead of excoriating myself, I offer you this new word.

Pronunciation: ek skȯr ee eyt (listen to it on dictionary.com)

Verb: literally means to flay or strip off the skin of a person. 2. flay verbally: denounce or berate scathingly.

Etymology: 15th century, Middle English, from the Late Latin excoriatus (past participle of excoriāre to strip, skin)

Usage: From The Decameron:

The sun was now in the zenith, and smote with extreme fervour full and unmitigated upon her tender and delicate frame, and upon her bare head, insomuch that his rays did not only scorch but bit by bit excoriate every part of her flesh that was exposed to them, and so shrewdly burn her that, albeit she was in a deep sleep, the pain awoke her.