Scandalizing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Pop Culture

• Media coverage of celebrity scandals often drives public discourse and shapes societal attitudes.
• Reality television shows thrive on scandalizing events to keep viewers engaged and provoke reactions.
• Infamous scandals, like the Watergate incident, have had lasting impacts on political trust and transparency.

Psychology

• Scandals can lead to a phenomenon known as 'moral panic', where society reacts strongly to perceived threats.
• The emotional response to scandalizing events can invoke feelings of outrage, betrayal, or even fascination.
• Research shows that people are more likely to share scandalous information, which can enhance group bonding and social currency.

Literature

• Many classic novels feature scandalizing events as a central plot device, driving character development and moral dilemmas.
• Authors like Charles Dickens often highlighted societal scandals to critique social injustices of their time.
• In modern literature, scandalizing situations are used to create tension, conflict, and drama, engaging readers deeply.

History

• Scandalizing events have significantly shaped public opinion, such as the impact of the Dreyfus Affair in France which questioned justice and antisemitism.
• Historical figures like Marie Antoinette faced scandalization that contributed to their downfall during times of political unrest.
• The Salem witch trials were fueled by scandalizing rumors, showcasing how community fear can lead to tragic outcomes.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Greek word 'skandalon', which means 'trap' or 'stumbling block', signifying something that causes offense.
• It entered the English language in the 14th century, initially referring to a moral or ethical offense.
• In later centuries, it expanded to encompass various forms of public outrage or shock.

The term 'scandalize' originates from the late Middle English word 'scandalizen', derived from the Old French 'escandaliser', which in turn comes from the Latin 'scandalizāre'. The Latin root is based on 'scandālum', meaning 'trap' or 'stumbling block', which historically refer to something that causes moral or spiritual offense. The original sense of scandal was associated with causing someone to sin or stumble in their faith. Over time, the meaning evolved, and by the 16th century, it began to encompass the idea of causing public outrage or moral indignation. The suffix '-izing' indicates the action of performing the verb, thus creating 'scandalizing' as a gerund form that highlights continuous or repeated action. This change reflects societal shifts in attitudes towards morality, public behavior, and the concept of reputation, making it a relevant term in both personal and public discourse.

Ranking #39,408, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 39405 gristly
• 39406 traumatize
• 39407 unpreventable
• 39408 scandalizing
• 39409 kilocalorie
• 39410 whelm
• 39411 acing
• ...