flagellantism


flag·el·lant

F0158700 (flăj′ə-lənt, flə-jĕl′ənt)n.1. One who whips, especially one who scourges oneself for religious discipline or public penance.2. One who seeks sexual gratification in beating or being beaten by another person.
[Latin flagellāns, flagellant-, from present participle of flagellāre, to whip; see flagellate.]
flag′el·lant adj.flag′el·lant·ism n.

flagellantism

1. the practice of ascetic individuals or groups who indulge in scourging for the sake of discipline or punishment.
2. (cap.) the practice of a 13th- and 14th-century fanatical European sect that indulged in scourging to avoid the punishment of God. — flagellant, n., adj.See also: Christianity