flagellant
pronunciation
How to pronounce flagellant in British English: UK ['flædʒɪlənt]
How to pronounce flagellant in American English: US ['flædʒələnt]
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- Noun:
- a person who is whipped or whips himself for sexual gratification
- a person who whips himself as a religious penance
Word Origin
- flagellant (n.)
- late 16c., "one who whips or scourges himself for religious discipline," from Latin flagellantem (nominative flagellans), present participle of flagellare "to scourge, lash" (see flagellum). There were notable outbreaks of it in 1260 and 1340s. As an adjective, "given to flagellation," 1880.