cas·ti·ga·tion \ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈgāshən\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English castigacioun, from Latin castigation-, castigatio, from castigatus + -ion-, -io -ion 1. a.: severe punishment : chastisement b.: severe reproof or critcism 2.: revision or correction (of a literary text)