The word went through the following journey:
* Latin: *castigare*
* Medieval Latin: *castigatus* (past participle)
* Middle French: *castiguer*
* Middle English: *castigate*
Interestingly, "castigate" originally meant "to purify" or "to make pure," which is related to the idea of "punishment" as a way to cleanse someone of wrongdoing.
Over time, the word shifted to its current meaning of "to criticize severely" or "to reprimand harshly." This shift reflects the idea that severe criticism can act as a form of punishment.