20 December 2013

excoriate

[ik-skawr-ee-eyt, -skohr-]

verb (used with object), ex·co·ri·at·ed, ex·co·ri·at·ing.
1. to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally: He was excoriated for his mistakes.
2. to strip off or remove the skin from: Her palms were excoriated by the hard labor of shoveling.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin excoriātus (past participle of excoriāre to strip, skin).

Related forms
un·ex·co·ri·at·ed, adjective

Anagram

are exotic

Today’s aphorism

There’s a difference between criminals and crooks. Crooks steal. Criminals blow some guy’s brains out. I’m a crook.

– Ronald Biggs, ‘Great Train Robbery’ robber, died 18 December 2013.

On this day

20 December – International Human Solidarity Day – celebrating unity in diversity, as well as reminding people of the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

20 December 1973 – Basque Nationalists kill Spanish Prime Minister, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco in a car-bombing in Madrid.

20 December 1989 – Operation ‘Just Cause’ in which President George Bush orders 27,684 U.S. troops into Panama in an effort to oust Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. Noriega surrendered on 3 January 1990.