[ad. L. castīgātiōn-em correction, chastisement, n. of action f. castīgā-re; see CASTIGATE v.]
† 1. Chastisement, corrective punishment or discipline, correction, chastening. Obs.
c. 1397. Chaucer, Lack Stedf., 26. Shewe forþe þy swerde of castigacioune.
1509. Hawes, Conv. Swearers, 35. Blessyd be ye of my castycacyon.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. (1632), 413. He also inuested them … with the power of the holy Ghost for castigation and relaxation of sin.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 35. Curroon (or Shaw Ichan) is not yet sensible of those castigations.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 143. Castigation is defined the curation of the soul from sin.
b. In modern use: Severe punishment or rebuke, chastisement, ‘flagellation.’
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. § 20. 201. It is enough for me to leave him to the castigation of Bellarmine.
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 77. The most complete piece of poetical castigation in our language.
1831. Mrq. Londonderry, Sp. Ho. Lords, 21 May. He has given a well-merited castigation to the Noble Lords on that side of the House.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India (1845), I. 71. Holkar then occupied himself in the castigation of the Raja of Bundi.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scot., II. v. 207. Smart castigation is in our opinion much preferable to fool’s cap, imprisonment, [etc.].
2. Correction, emendation (of a book, etc.).
1611. Chapman, Iliad, I. comment. 16 (R.). To oppose his arrogant and ignorant castigations?
1641. Vind. Smectymnuus, 32. A castigation of the Liturgie.
1673. J. Howell (title), French and English Dictionary, with another English and French … with accurate castigations throughout the whole work.
1756. Johnson, in Boswell (1831), I. 307. He submitted that work to my castigation; and I remember I blotted a great many lines.
1882. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 76. The Breviary of the old Sarum use underwent a considerable castigation.
† 3. Purification. Obs. rare.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 325. [The air in the lungs] vndergoeth a peculiar Castigation before it bee admitted to the heart.
† 4. Correction, subduing, moderating. Obs. rare.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., II. ix. 222. Floods and Conflagrations … either for the Castigation of the Excesses of Generation … or to the total Dissolution thereof.
