scourge
UK: skɜːdʒ | US: skɜːrdʒ
n. 1. A cause of great suffering or harm (e.g., "the scourge of war").
n. 2. A whip used for punishment or torture.
vt. 1. To inflict severe punishment or suffering.
vt. 2. To criticize or punish severely.
The word "scourge" traces back to the Latin corrigia (a leather strap or whip), evolving through Old French escorgier. The intensive prefix ex- emphasized violent action, while the suffix -ge may have instrumentalized the word into a noun for the whip itself. Over time, it metaphorically expanded to mean any severe affliction, reflecting the dual physical and abstract impact of punishment.
Poverty remains a scourge in many developing nations.
The dictator used the scourge to suppress dissent.
The plague scourged Europe in the 14th century.
Critics scourged the government for its inaction.
In ancient Rome, slaves feared the scourge more than death.