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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• comminative adjective
• comminator noun
• comminatory adjective

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

In that hour that earlier form of absolution will reverse itself on his lips into one of commination.

From The Book-Bills of Narcissus An Account Rendered by Richard Le Gallienne by Le Gallienne, Richard

Always, at the end of these commination services, Tom would say to Dennis, the man, "I an't a-speakin' to you, old socks, so keep yer hair on."

From Bunch Grass A Chronicle of Life on a Cattle Ranch by Vachell, Horace Annesley

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

MALEDICTON, curse, imprecation, denunciation, execration, anathema, ban, proscription, excommunication, commination, fulmination.

From Public Speaking by Stratton, Clarence

Annabel Cleeve now contributed her little damnatory verse to the commination service.

From The Claw by Stockley, Cynthia