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August 3, 2021

Word of the Day: Berate

1 CQ

Word of the Day : August 3, 2021

berate \bih-RAYT\ verb

Definition

: to scold or condemn vehemently and at length

Did You Know?

Berate and rate can both mean "to rebuke angrily or violently." This sense of rate was first recorded in the 14th century, centuries before the familiar (and etymologically unrelated) rate meaning "to estimate the value of." We know that berate was probably formed by combining the prefix be- and the older rate, but the origins of this particular rate itself are somewhat more obscure.

Aired August 3, 2021

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