Question 1 · Quick check
scold
CEFRB2
/ˈskəʊ̯ld/
verb · noun
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
verb
To speak angrily to someone about their wrong behavior.
- 02
verb
Extra detailOf birds, to make harsh vocalisations in aggression.
Examples
If I scold you, it is not that I am angry.
If I scold you, it is that I want you to improve.
At a glance
Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 2
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- /ˈskoʊ̯ld/
Deep Dive
verb
Extra meaningsTo rebuke angrily.
Of birds, to make vocalisations that resemble human scolding.
noun
Extra meaningA person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
More examples
In context“Well, I won’t have it, and that’s enough.” She laughed, for her voice had a little been that of the professional scold.
I advise that you refrain from using that kind of language at home, lest your mother scold you.
A ſclaunderous tunge, a tunge of a ſkolde, Worketh more miſchiefe than can be tolde; That, if I wiſt not to be controlde, Yet ſomwhat to ſay I dare well be bolde,
Related
Quick test
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Nearby
Origin
verb
The noun is from Middle English scold(e), skald(e), first attested in the 12th or 13th century (as scold, scolde, skolde, skald). The verb is from Middle English scolden, first attested in the late 1300s. Most dictionaries derive the verb from the noun and say the noun is probably from Old Norse skald (“poet”) (cognate with Icelandic skáld (“poet, scop”)), as skalds sometimes wrote insulting poems, though another view is that the Norse and English words are cognate to each other and to Old High German skeltan (whence Modern German schelten (“to scold, chide”)), Old Dutch skeldan (whence Modern Dutch schelden (“to scold, berate”)), all inherited from Proto-Germanic *skeldaną (“scold”).