[f. L. castīgāt- ppl. stem of castīgā-re to chastise, correct, reprove (f. castus pure, chaste) + -ATE3. See CHASTISE.]
1. trans. To chastise, correct, inflict corrective punishment on; to subdue by punishment or discipline, to chasten; now usually, to punish or rebuke severely.
1607. Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 240. If thou didst put this soure cold habit on To castigate thy pride, ’twere well.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., 167. He’s but a novice in the Art of Autocracy, that cannot castigate his passions in reference to those presumptions.
1865. Mozley, Mirac., vii. 291. It has only … castigated and educated the belief, and not destroyed it.
1873. H. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., vii. 170. Daily we castigate the political idol with a hundred pens.
1878. S. Cox, Salv. Mundi, vi. (ed. 3), 142. Discipline by which they should be castigated for their sins.
2. To correct, revise and emend (a literary work).
1666. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 190. Seneca’s tragedies … have … been castigated abroad by several learned hands.
a. 1742. Bentley, Lett., 237. He had adjusted and castigated the then Latin Vulgate to the best Greek exemplars.
† 3. transf. To chasten or subdue (in intensity).
1653. H. More, Conject. Cabbal. (1713), 174. Morning is … a parcel of that full Day which was first created, and is castigated and mitigated by its conjunction with the dark Matter into a noderate Matutine Splendour.
1662. Glanvill, Lux Orient., xiv. 162 (T.). Being so castigated, they are duly attemper’d to the more easie body of air again.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 112. If the narcotick Sulphur was castigated.
Hence Castigated ppl. a., chastened.
1728. Young, Love Fame, V. (1757), 136. The modest look, the castigated grace.
1784. J. Barry, Lect. Art, vi. (1848), 228. This happily castigated style of design.
1787. Burns, Unco Guid, iv. When your castigated pulse Gies now and then a wallop.
