to reproach or denounce vehemently; upbraid harshly; berate sharply.
Origin: 1610–20; < L objūrgātus, ptp. of objūrgāre to rebuke, equiv. to ob-ob-+ jūrgāre, jurigāre to rebuke, equiv. to jūr- (s. of jūs) law + -ig-, comb. form of agere to drive, do + -ātus-ate1
ob·jur·gate (ŏb'jər-gāt', ŏb-jûr'gāt') tr.v.
ob·jur·gat·ed, ob·jur·gat·ing, ob·jur·gates To scold or rebuke sharply; berate.
[Latin obiūrgāre, obiūrgāt- : ob-, against; see ob- + iūrgāre, to scold, sue at law (probably iūs, iūr-, law; see yewes- in Indo-European roots + agere, to do, proceed; see ag- in Indo-European roots).] ob'jur·ga'tion n., ob·jur'ga·to'ri·ly (ŏb-jûr'gə-tôr'ə-lē, -tōr'-) adv., ob·jur'ga·to'ry (-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.