Chided

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃaɪdɪd/

Definitions

1. Expressed mild disapproval or scolded someone gently
2. Rebuked or chastised someone in a light, corrective manner
3. Criticized or reproved in a way intended to correct behavior

Etymology: Chided is the past tense and past participle of "chide," and the verb's roots run deep into Old English. Its ancestor, "ċīdan," meant more than mild disapproval: it covered blame, contention, striving, quarrelling and complaint all at once. Middle English "chiden" kept that broad range, so a chiding in medieval speech could be a row as much as a telling-off. The word's modern tone of gentle reproof is a narrowing from that wider field. Over the centuries, the sense of open quarrel faded while the sense of scolding remained, leaving "chide" as a term for correction that is firm but not harsh. The verb's kinship with the German "kiden," meaning "to sound," hints at an older root that is harder to pin down, and its relation to the Old High German "kīdal," meaning "wedge," is one of those connections scholars have debated without settling.

Synonyms: reprimanded, scolded, rebuked, admonished, censured

Antonyms: praised, commended, approved, endorsed, lauded