lapidate

verb /ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/

1. To throw stones or other objects at, as punishment, sometimes until death.

   transitive

   the host (in tailcoat, grey cravat, purple vest) is lapidated by his wife while he loudly cries: "Maggie—please save a cup fer coffee in the morning."

2. To hurl insults at.

   figuratively, transitive

   The hour-long (and far too slow-paced) show: Malice in Wonderland, by lampooning, lapidating S. J. Perelman, veteran of movie-writing stints

Where it comes from

First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin lapidātus, perfect passive participle of lapidō (“to throw stones at”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from lapis (“stone”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry lapidate (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← lapalissadelarnax →

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