outrage
UK[ˈaʊtreɪdʒ]US[ˈaʊtreɪdʒ]
n
An extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation.
n
An action or event that causes such a feeling.
v
To make someone feel very angry, shocked, or indignant.
Morpheme Breakdown
out
rage
out
rage
madness, fury, rage.
Etymology
The word "outrage" entered English in the late 13th century from Old French 'outrage', 'ultrage', meaning "an act of violence, injustice, insult." The Old French term itself was formed from the Latin prepositional phrase 'ultra' (meaning "beyond") combined with the suffix '-aticum', implying an action or condition. The English spelling and meaning were subsequently reshaped by folk etymology, reanalyzing the word as a native compound of "out" and "rage." This reinterpretation logically reinforced the sense of an action or feeling that goes beyond ordinary rage, perfectly capturing its modern meaning of an extreme, transgressive offense or the furious reaction it provokes.
Analysis
Structure: out + rage
- out (Prefix): From Old English 'ūt', meaning "out, beyond, to an extreme degree." In this compound, it functions as an intensifier.
- rage (Root): From Old French 'rage', from Latin 'rabies' meaning "madness, fury, rage." It functions as the core noun denoting violent anger.
Examples
The court's decision was met with public outrage.
The new policy is an outrage against common sense.
His insensitive comments outraged the entire community.