[f. L. flagellāt- ppl. stem of flagellā-re, f. flagellum: see FLAGELLE sb.] trans. To scourge, whip.
1623. in Cockeram.
1721–82. in Bailey.
1771. Smollett, H. Clinker, II. 173. They taught that the Supreme Creator of heaven and earth had allowed his only Son, his own equal in power and glory, to enter the bowels of a woman, to be born as a human creature, to be insulted, flagellated, and even executed as a malefactor.
1837. Landor, Pentameron, Wks. 1846, II. 313/2. I am afraid the good Alighieri, like his friends and painters, was inclined to think the angels were created only to flagellate and burn us; and Paradise only for us to be driven out of it.
1858. R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, iii. 9. The outside passengers descended from their eminences, proceeded to flagellate themselves into circulation, and throw off their husks.
fig. 1804–8. Foster, in Life & Corr. (1846), I. lxi. 341. I flagellated myself in great anger, and drove myself to work, and have kept at it ever since.
1830. Westm. Rev., XII. April, 274. The Quarterly could for once come forth on fair ground, and flagellate an opponent without having recourse to its old art of wilful misrepresentation.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Wks. (Bohn), II. 39. Their drowsy minds need to be flagellated by war and trade and politics and persecution.
Hence Flagellated ppl. a.
1836. E. Howard, Rattlin, the Reefer, xiii. Even the flagellated boys contrived to hush up their sobs.
1884. Pall Mall G., 29 July, 3/2. The flagellated flesh visibly shuddered.
