different between scourge vs blight

English

Etymology

From Old French escorgier (“to whip”), from Vulgar Latin excorrigiare, consisting of ex- (“thoroughly”) + corrigia (“thong, whip”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sk??d?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /sk?d?/
  • (US, also) IPA^(key): /sk??d?/

• Rhymes: -??(?)d?

Noun

scourge (plural scourges)

1. A source of persistent trouble such as pestilence that causes pain and suffering or widespread destruction.

2. A means to inflict such pain or destruction.
3. A whip, often of leather.

Translations

Verb

scourge (third-person singular simple present scourges, present participle scourging, simple past and past participle scourged)

1. To strike with a scourge; to flog.

Synonyms

• (to whip or scourge): Thesaurus:whip

Translations

See also

• Scourge in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “scourge”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• scrouge

English

Etymology

Uncertain, however given that it was used at one point to refer to inflammation of the skin , quite possibly from Middle English *bleighte, *ble?te, from Old English bl?cþa (“leprosy”) (related to Old English bl??o (“paleness, leprosy”) and bl??e (“an itching skin-disease”)); or from Old Norse blikna (“to grow pallid”). Related to bleak.

Pronunciation

• enPR: bl?t, IPA^(key): /bla?t/
• Rhymes: -a?t
• Homophone: blite

Noun

blight (countable and uncountable, plural blights)

1. (phytopathology) A rapid and complete chlorosis, browning, then death of plant tissues such as leaves, branches, twigs, or floral organs.
2. The bacterium, virus or fungus that causes such a condition.
3. (by extension) Anything that impedes growth or development or spoils any other aspect of life.

Derived terms

• blighten

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

blight (third-person singular simple present blights, present participle blighting, simple past and past participle blighted)

1. (transitive) To affect with blight; to blast; to prevent the growth and fertility of.
   • 1695, John Woodward, An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth and Terrestrial Bodies, especially Minerals, &c

     [This vapour] blasts vegetables, blights corn and fruit, and is sometimes injurious even to Men.

2. (intransitive) To suffer blight.

3. (transitive) To spoil, ruin, or destroy (something).
   • 1814, Lord Byron, The Corsair

     that lone and blighted bosom sears

Derived terms

Translations

References