scoundrel ism (skoundrelizm)

drel + -ism.] The practices of a scoundrel; basene ; turpitude; rascality. Thus shall the Bastille be abolished from our Earth... Alas, the scoundrel ism and hard usage are not so easy of abolition! Carlyle, French Rev., I. v. 9. scoundrelly (skoun'drel-i), a. [ scoundrel + -ly1.] Characteristic of a scoundrel; base; mean; villainous; rascally. I had mustered the scoundrelly dragoons ten minutes ago in order to beat up Burley's quarters. IMG:content-0350.png:[blocks in formation] Was newly scoured . William Morris, Earthly Paradise, I. 293. 3. To cleanse or clean out by flushing, or by a violent flood of water. August us, hauing destroyed Anthonie and Cleopatra, Trenches of Nilus. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 586. The British Channel, with its narrow funnel opening at the straits of Dover, is largely scoured by the Atlantic rollers or tidal waves. N. and Q., 7th ser., II. 63. 4. To purge thoroughly or with violence; purge drastically. What rhubarb, cyme [in some eds. senna ], or what purgative drug, Would scour these English hence? Shak., Macbeth, v. 3. 56. I will scowre thy gorge like a hawke. Marston and Barksted , Insatiate Counte , v. 5. To cleanse thoroughly in any way; free entirely from impurities, or whatever obstructs or is undesirable; clear; sweep clear; rid. The kings of Lace demon having sent out some gallies, under the charge of one of their nephews, to scour the sea of the pirates, they met us. Sir P. Sidney. And, like a sort of true-born scavengers, Scour me this famous realm of enemies. Beau . and Fl ., Knight of Burning Pestle, v. 2. 6. To remove by scouring; cleanse away; obliterate; efface. Never came reformation in a flood, With such a heady currence, scouring faults. Shak ., Hen. V., i. 1. 34. Sour grief and sad repentance scours and clears My stains with tears. Quarles, Emblems, ii. 14. 7. To run over and scatter; clean out. And Whackum in the same play ["The Scowrers"] describes the doings of the fraternity of Scourers. "Then how we Scour'd the Market People, over-threw the Butter Women, defeated the Pippin Merchants." Ashton, Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, II. 179. How many sail of well-mann'd ships before us... Have we pursu'd and scour'd ! Fletcher, Double Marriage, ii. 1. Scoured wool, wool which has been thoroughly cleansed after shearing. II. in trans. 1. To rub a surface for the purpose of cleansing it. Speed. She can wash and scour. Launce. A special virtue. Shak ., T. G. of V., iii. 1. 313. 2. To cleanse cloth; remove dirt or grease from a texture. Warm water... scoureth better than cold. Bacon, Nat. Hist., § 362. IMG:content-0351.jpg:[graphic] 3. To be purged thoroughly or violently; use strong purgatives. And although he [Greene] continually scowred , yet still his belly sweld, and neuer left swelling vpward, vntill it sweld him at the hart and in his face. Repentance of Robert Greene (1592), Sig. D. 2.