(动词)鞭笞;鞭打(自己或他人),常指作为惩罚、苦修或自我惩戒的行为。(也可引申为“严厉批评、痛斥”,较常见于正式语境。)
/ˈflædʒəˌleɪt/
He used to flagellate himself for every small mistake.
他过去每犯一点小错就会自责到“惩罚”自己。
In the novel, the monk chose to flagellate himself as an act of penance, believing suffering could purify the soul.
在小说中,那位修士选择鞭笞自己作为忏悔之举,认为痛苦能净化灵魂。
来自拉丁语 flagellare “鞭打”,与 flagellum “鞭子”同源。该词进入英语后,多用于宗教苦修、惩戒等语境,后来也发展出比喻义:对某人或某事进行严厉抨击。