commination

American  

[kom-uh-ney-shuhn] / ˌkɒm əˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a threat of punishment or vengeance.

2. a denunciation.

3. (in the Church of England) a penitential office read on Ash Wednesday in which God's anger and judgments are proclaimed against sinners.

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commination British  

/ -trɪ, ˈkɒmɪnətərɪ, ˌkɒmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of threatening punishment or vengeance

2. Church of England a recital of prayers, including a list of God's judgments against sinners, in the office for Ash Wednesday

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• comminatory
  adjective
• comminative
  adjective
• comminator
  noun

Etymology

Origin of commination

1400–50; late Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Latin comminātiōn- (stem of comminātīo ), equivalent to commināt ( us ), past participle of comminārī to threaten ( com- com- + minārī to threaten) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

His method is to ask at once more than human nature can be expected to give, and then pour out a whole commination service of anathemas when his demands are not complied with.

From Great Britain's Sea Policy A Reply to an American Critic reprinted from 'The Atlantic Monthly' by Murray, Gilbert

"Oh, hang Professor Wildmarsh!" said Keniston, softening the commination with a smile.

From Crucial Instances by Wharton, Edith

There was more than unveiling of the weakness of any human policy or party; the letter was in part a commination of individual conduct.

From Lewis Rand by Johnston, Mary

Now this commination, unexpected as it was from a lady of wealth and position, was not altogether unwarranted, and so I went on.

From Dr. Dumany's Wife by Jókai, Mór

They toiled upward with stubborn determination, and wasted breath in voluble commination of the length of the way, when they could have employed it more usefully in compassing it.

From White Fire by Oxenham, John