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Scour vs Scourge - What's the difference?

scour | scourge |

As verbs the difference between scour and scourge

is that scour is to clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously while scourge is to strike with a scourge , to flog.

As nouns the difference between scour and scourge

is that scour is the removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water while scourge is (uncountable) a source of persistent trouble such as pestilence that causes pain and suffering or widespread destruction.

scour

English

Alternative forms

* scower (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To clean, polish, or wash something by scrubbing it vigorously.
    • He scoured the burner pans to remove the burnt spills.
  • To remove by rubbing or cleansing; to sweep along or off.
    • He scoured the burnt food from the pan.
  • * Shakespeare
    • [I will] stain my favors in a bloody mask, / Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it.
  • To search an area thoroughly.
    • They scoured the scene of the crime for clues.
  • (ambitransitive) To move swiftly over; to brush along.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • when swift Camilla scours the plain
  • * Dryden
    • So four fierce coursers, starting to the race, / Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace.
  • (veterinary medicine) Of livestock, to suffer from diarrhea.
    • If a lamb is scouring , do not delay treatment.
  • (veterinary medicine) To purge.
    • to scour a horse
  • (obsolete) To cleanse.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Warm water is softer than cold, for it scoureth better.

    Derived terms

    * scourer

    Noun

    (-)
  • The removal of sediment caused by swiftly moving water.
    • Bridge scour may scoop out scour holes and compromise the integrity of the bridge.

    scourge

    English

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A source of persistent trouble such as pestilence that causes pain and suffering or widespread destruction.
  • A means to inflict such pain or destruction.
  • * Shakespeare
    • What scourge for perjury / Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=Towards the end of poverty
    • , date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=11, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=America’s poverty line is $63 a day for a family of four. In the richer parts of the emerging world $4 a day is the poverty barrier. But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 ([…]): people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.}}
  • A whip, often of leather.
  • * Chapman
    • Up to coach then goes / The observed maid, takes both the scourge and reins.

    Verb

  • To strike with a scourge , to flog.

    • See also

    * (pedia)