Scoldings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Reprimands delivered to an individual for undesirable actions are often characterized by stern or harsh language
2. Instances of reprimand reflect an expression of discontent regarding someone's behavior and serve to correct them
3. Verbal expressions of disapproval aimed at correcting someone's behavior

Etymology: "Scoldings" is the plural of "scolding," a noun formed from the verb "scold" plus the suffix "-ing." The verb entered English in Middle English, and its origin is uncertain. It may come from Old Norse, possibly related to "skáld," meaning "poet," though that link is not firmly established. Early uses of "scold" were often applied to women, and in medieval England a "common scold" was a legal category for a woman who habitually quarreled and disturbed her neighbours. Such offenders could be punished with the ducking stool, a chair used to submerge them in water. The sense of the word has since softened to the everyday act of rebuking someone, but the older association with persistent, noisy complaint still lingers in the plural form.

Synonyms: rebukes, reprimands, admonishments, criticisms, warnings

Antonyms: praises, approvals, commendations, endorsements, appreciations