Scum

Pronunciation: /skʌm/

Definitions of scum

noun a worthless or contemptible person

Example Sentences

A1 The scum on top of the soup should be removed before serving.

A2 He was disgusted by the scum floating in the pond.

B1 The detective described the suspect as a low-life scum.

B2 The journalist exposed the corrupt politician as scum of the earth.

C1 The criminal organization was filled with scum who would do anything for money.

C2 The warlord ruled his kingdom with an iron fist, eliminating any scum who dared to oppose him.

Examples of scum in a Sentence

formal The company fired the employee for being involved in unethical practices, labeling him as scum.

informal I can't believe that scum tried to cheat his way through the exam.

slang Don't trust that scum, he's always up to no good.

figurative The polluted river was described as a breeding ground for environmental scum.

Grammatical Forms of scum

• past tense: scummed
• plural: scums
• comparative: more scummy
• superlative: most scummy
• present tense: scums
• future tense: will scum
• perfect tense: have scummed
• continuous tense: is scumming
• singular: scum
• positive degree: scummy
• infinitive: to scum
• gerund: scumming
• participle: scummed

Origin and Evolution of scum

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'scum' originated from the Middle English word 'scume', which was derived from the Old French word 'escume' meaning foam or froth.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe the foam or froth on liquid, the word 'scum' evolved over time to also refer to a layer of dirt or impurities on a surface. It later took on a derogatory connotation to describe a person or group of people considered to be worthless or despicable.