Word a Day
pillory
What does pillory mean?
pillory (verb): to subject to humiliation, scorn, ridicule or abuse.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce pillory?
/ˈpɪləɹi/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does pillory come from?
From Middle English pilory, pillorie, from Old French pilori, pellori, which is either from Old Occitan espilori or Latin pīla (“pillar”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “pillory”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “pillory” mean?
to bear witness or testify; to guarantee or sponsor
Not quite: that's what vouch means.
to hold in or hold back; to keep in check; restrain
Not quite: that's what inhibit means.
to subject to humiliation, scorn, ridicule or abuse
Right! That's what “pillory” means.
to cancel or invalidate by withdrawing or reversing
Not quite: that's what revoke means.
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