It's Merriam-Webster's word of the day for July 5th.

Today's word is Kastigate, spelled C-A-S-B-B-B-A-E-C-A-E-C-A-G-E-C-A-G-E-C-T-E-C-A-G-E-T-E-C-T-A-T is a verb. It's a formal word that means to criticize harshly. Here's the word used in a sentence from the

Hollywood reporter. At key moments throughout the animated feature which takes

her from age seven through her 20s, she's bombarded with the song stylings of three mythological

sirens, harmonizing scolds, who take different forms depending on the circumstances.

They reinforce Selma's self-doubt and Castigate her whenever she breaks or questions

the old school rules of the boy-girl game.

Castigate has a synonym in the word chastise. Both verbs mean to punish or to

censure someone. They also happen to come from the same Latin root. The verb

castigare meaning to discipline for a fault or lapse to reprove or censure.

Castigare is also the source of the word chasen, which can also mean to discipline by punishment but more commonly means to

subdue or make humble, as in chastened by my foolish error.

Castagate is the newest of the three verbs. Current evidence dates it to the

early 17th century, while Chasen dates to the early 16th century and Chastise has

been found in use as far back as the 14th century.

With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

Visit Marion Webster.com today, for definitions, word play, and trending word lookups.