flay
flayed; flaying; flays
Nasty word, flay. It means to peel or beat the skin of a person or animal, and not necessarily a dead one, either. Nowadays it more commonly means to criticize harshly someone or something, usually in public, leaving them raw and wounded.
To be flayed alive was a common punishment in ancient times for political enemies or traitors. The ancient Assyrians were particularly good at it. Today, if you want to have your skin — metaphorically — peeled in public, you go on reality TV. It can be equally nasty.
Vocabulary lists containing flay
After learning that her blood is gold instead of red, sixteen-year-old Deka is forced to fight for the emperor of Otera by joining the alaki — an army of nearly immortal girls with golden blood and superhuman gifts.
In this epic poem, clever Odysseus attempts to find his way home after the end of the Trojan War. Learn these words from the translation by Robert Fagles.
King Leontes of Sicily unjustly accuses his wife of being unfaithful and abandons his infant daughter. Years later, when he learns of his mistake, he attempts to find his long-lost child.
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