DOUG'S WORD OF THE WEEK

castigate / KAS-ti-gayt / verb tr. : 1. To criticize or chastise severely.

Notes & Etymology: From the Latin castigare (to chasten), from castus (pure) + agere (to drive). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kes- (cut) which is also the source of castle (apparently in the sense of a place separated from the rest), chaste (cut off from faults), caste, quash, and caret.

Usage: “Obama did not mention his predecessor by name, but there were harsh words for George W. Bush, who was castigated for funding two wars and several tax cuts through borrowing rather than cutting spending elsewhere. ”
Kevin Connolly; Obama's Deficit Dilemma; BBC News (London, UK); Feb 1, 2010.