verb (used with object), scan·dal·ized, scan·dal·iz·ing.
- to shock or horrify by something considered immoral or improper.
- Nautical. to spill the wind from or reduce the exposed area of (a sail) in an unusual manner.
verb
- (tr) to shock, as by improper behaviour
v.late 15c., from Middle French scandaliser (12c.), from Church Latin scandalizare, from late Greek skandalizein “to make to stumble; tempt; give offense to (someone),” from skandalon (see scandal). Originally “make a public scandal of;” sense of “shock by doing something improper” first recorded 1640s. Dryden and Shakespeare use simple scandal as a verb. Related: Scandalized; scandalizing; scandalization.