Nag vs Scold - What's the difference?
nag | scold |
A small horse; a pony.
An old useless horse.
(obsolete, derogatory) A paramour.
* 1598 , , III. x. 11:
To repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters.
To act inappropriately in the eyes of peers, to backstab, to verbally abuse.
To bother with persistent memories.
Other sorts of persistent annoyance, e.g.:
(obsolete) A person fond of abusive language, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
To rebuke.
* 1813 , (Pride and Prejudice) , (Jane Austen)
*
As nouns the difference between nag and scold
is that nag is a small horse; a pony while scold is a person fond of abusive language, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.As verbs the difference between nag and scold
is that nag is to repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters while scold is to rebuke.nag
English
Etymology 1
(etyl) nagge'', cognate with Dutch ''neggeNoun
(en noun)- Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt – Whom leprosy o'ertake!
Synonyms
* (old useless horse) dobbin, hack, jade, plugCoordinate terms
* (old useless horse) bum (racing )Etymology 2
Probably from a (etyl) source; compare Swedish .Verb
(nagg)- The notion that he forgot something nagged him the rest of the day.
- A nagging pain in his left knee
- A nagging north wind
Anagrams
* * * * ----scold
English
Alternative forms
* scould (obsolete)Noun
(en noun)Verb
(en verb)- A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her —
- Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.