berate
pronunciation
How to pronounce berate in British English:
UK [bɪˈreɪt]
How to pronounce berate in American English:
US [bɪˈreɪt]
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- Verb:
- censure severely or angrily
Word Origin
- berate
- berate: see rate
- berate (v.)
- 1540s, from be- "thoroughly" + Middle English rate "to scold" (late 14c.), from Old French reter "accuse, blame," from Latin reputare (see reputation). "Obsolete except in U.S." [OED 1st ed.], but it seems to have revived in Britain 20c. Related: Berated; berating.
Example
- 1. They have hauled officials charged with policing it before congress to berate their efforts .
- 2. But lately american leaders have shown signs of the inertia for which they used to berate japan .
- 3. And berate the men and women who have sworn with their lives to defend you .
- 4. From that moment on , I knew I would never berate my son for imperfect grades .
- 5. One passage is so heavily scratched out as to be almost illegible , but in it lord henry seems to berate basil for having become dorian 's " slave , " and then blurts out , " I hate dorian gray . "