Exprobration

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of reproaching or criticizing someone
2. A formal expression of disapproval or blame towards one's actions
3. The process of publicly denouncing or denigrating an individual's behavior or character

Etymology: "Exprobration" is a plain Latin-derived formation with no dramatic twist, but its parts are worth seeing clearly. It comes from Latin "exprobrātiō," the act of upbraiding someone, which was built on the verb "exprobrāre," meaning "to reproach, upbraid or reprove." That verb combines the prefix "ex-," meaning "out" or "thoroughly," with "probrum," a Latin noun for disgrace or shame. So at its core the word describes bringing someone's shame out into the open. English took the word from Latin, and the French form "exprobration" lies alongside it as a close relative. The English noun carries the same sense of verbal rebuke or criticism that it had in Latin.