verb / noun
scold
SKOHLD/skəʊld/
To address someone with angry criticism.
The woman scolds the young man for spray-painting her wall.
Etymology
Old Norse skald meant “poet”; the shift to an abusive speaker may reflect poets’ feared skill at lampooning. The verb later softened from being quarrelsome or abusive to angrily finding fault.
In context
If you want to hit or scold me, do it to me. Don t make things difficult for Xue er. It s all my fault... Luo Chen took all the blame upon himself. Grandma, please don t be angry.
More examples
- The coach scolded us for ignoring the safety rules.
- Please don't scold me for an honest mistake.
- Nobody wants to work with a scold who constantly finds fault.
Forms
scold · scolds · scolded · scolding