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Tell off

verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish, often in a harsh, angry, direct way. transitive

    "Joel's boss told him off for being late again."

  2. 2
    reprimand wordnet
  3. 3
    To count (members of a sequence), to enumerate. transitive

    "The Recruit looked thoughtful and told off the days on his fingers."

  4. 4
    To allocate duties to someone. dated, transitive

    "The provisions were packed over night and sent down by boat, in charge of the steward of the Gtdnare or some person specially told off for the purpose."

  5. 5
    To divide and practise a regiment or company in the several formations, preparatory to marching to the general parade for field exercises. transitive

    "To equalize a battalion is to tell off a certain number of companies, usually eight, in such a manner that the several component parts shall consist of the same number of men."

Etymology

(to count): From the military order: "number" - when starting with the first soldier, each would number himself out loud, counting in sequence file by file and rank by rank.

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