excommunicate

American  

[eks-kuh-myoo-ni-keyt, eks-kuh-myoo-ni-kit, -keyt] / ˌɛks kəˈmyu nɪˌkeɪt, ˌɛks kəˈmyu nɪ kɪt, -ˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

excommunicated, excommunicating

1. to cut off from communion with a church or exclude from the sacraments of a church by ecclesiastical sentence.

2. to exclude or expel from membership or participation in any group, association, etc..

   an advertiser excommunicated from a newspaper.

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noun

1. an excommunicated person.

adjective

1. cut off from communion with a church; excommunicated.

excommunicate British  

verb

1. (tr) to sentence (a member of the Church) to exclusion from the communion of believers and from the privileges and public prayers of the Church

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adjective

1. having incurred such a sentence

noun

1. an excommunicated person

Other Word Forms

• excommunicable
  adjective
• excommunication
  noun
• excommunicative
  adjective
• excommunicator
  noun
• unexcommunicated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of excommunicate

1375–1425; late Middle English excommunicaten (v.) < Late Latin excommūnicātus literally, put out of the community (past participle of excommūnicāre ), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + commūn ( is ) common, public + -ic- (by analogy with commūnicāre to communicate ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

To excommunicate someone is to officially banish them from their church. In everyday usage, this word can also refer to expelling or excluding someone from any kind of group. The science club might excommunicate you if you declare that the earth is flat. If a congregant breaks an important church rule, its leaders might formally remove — or excommunicate—that person. This word comes from the Late Latin excommunicare, "put out of the community," or in Church Latin, "expel from communion." To excommunicate a Christian means, in part, that they can't participate in church rituals including the sacrament of communion and are no longer part of the community.

Example Sentences

Therefore, he that beleeveth Jesus to be the Christ, is free from all the dangers threatned to persons Excommunicate.

From Leviathan by Hobbes, Thomas

Appointment of the Commissioners of Presbyteries, to give in a list of the Excommunicate persons within their bounds to the Clerk.

From The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Ref. to the said Commission to present an Overture to the Parliament, that Presbyteries may plant the Kirks which are of the patronage of the forfaulted and Excommunicate Persons.

From The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

When thou, poor Excommunicate From all the joys of Love, shalt see The full reward and glorious fate Which my strong faith shall purchase me, Then curse thine own Inconstancy.

From The Home Book of Verse — Volume 2 by Stevenson, Burton Egbert

Ref. to a Committee to consider of some Overtures concerning Papists, and their Children and Excommunicate persons and to report, Ib.

From The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church of Scotland. General Assembly