Seeking to sanction a country into capitulation is not a new strategy.
Whatever the definition of modesty, the face-covering burqa has no sanction of Quran.
Only after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 did the U.S. sanction Pakistan for their nuclear program.
A sanction could be anything from reducing to terminating participation.
This could have serious impact on Iranian sanction talks slated to begin on Oct. 1.
It is one that should have the sanction of the king before it is done.
The sanction of the caste rules is in a boycott by all members of the caste.
For a time, to sanction the change of the Sabbath, I took what may properly be called prelatical ground.
This is only an imitation of nature, in which pain is a sanction and a deterrent.
This meeting the sanction of Wilhelm's companion, the young man entered the cell alone, carefully closing the door behind him.
early 15c., "confirmation or enactment of a law," from Latin sanctionem (nominative sanctio) "act of decreeing or ordaining," also "decree, ordinance," noun of action from past participle stem of sancire "to decree, confirm, ratify, make sacred" (see saint (n.)). Originally especially of ecclesiastical decrees.
1778, "confirm by sanction, make valid or binding;" 1797 as "to permit authoritatively;" from sanction (n.). Seemingly contradictory meaning "impose a penalty on" is from 1956 but is rooted in an old legalistic sense of the noun. Related: Sanctioned; sanctioning.
