flagellant

[ flaj-uh-luhnt, fluh-jel-uhnt ]

noun

1. a person who flagellates or scourges their own body for religious discipline.
2. a person who derives sexual pleasure from whipping or being whipped by another person.
3. (often initial capital letter) one of a medieval European sect of fanatics who practiced scourging in public.

adjective

1. flagellating.
2. severely criticizing:

   a flagellant attack on the opposition party.

flagellant

/ ˈflædʒɪlənt; ˈflædʒɪˌleɪtə; fləˈdʒɛlənt /

noun

1. a person who whips himself or others either as part of a religious penance or for sexual gratification
2. often capital (in medieval Europe) a member of a religious sect who whipped themselves in public

Derived Forms

• ˈflagellantˌism, noun

Other Words From

• flag·el·lant·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagellant¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin flagellant- (stem of flagellāns ) “whipping,” present participle of flagellāre; flagellum, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagellant¹

C16: from Latin flagellāre to whip, from flagellum

Example Sentences

And with a flagellant's pleasure the patient nurses this fire of fever, till it flames up in a bright blaze.

From Project Gutenberg

She did not see in Clare's hopeless passion the joy of the flagellant, or the self-dramatization of a neurotic girl.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet no flagellant ever bent more meekly under his own blows than Charlotte did as she resigned herself to bearing that cross.

From Project Gutenberg

No flagellant of old ever trembled beneath the body lash as he under the spiritual punishment.

From Project Gutenberg

If it would have freed her from pain he would have hugged his own with the savage exultance of a flagellant.

From Project Gutenberg