expostulate
UK /ɛksˈpɒstjʊleɪt/ · US /ɛksˈpɑstjʊleɪt/ verb
Forms expostulates expostulating expostulated
- verb (intransitive) To protest or remonstrate; to reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of conduct [(often) with with].
Synonyms
challenge demur except inveigh kick object protest remonstrate squawk
Etymology
From Latin expostulō (“demand, claim”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix). By surface analysis, ex- + postulate.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to make redress or to desist; to remonstrate; --followed by with.
- verb To discuss; to examine. [Obs.]
Etymology [L. expostulatus, p.p. of expostulare to demand vehemently; ex out + postulare to ask, require. See Postulate.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “expostulate”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details