condemn

views updated May 23 2018

con·demn / kənˈdem/ • v. [tr.] 1. express complete disapproval of, typically in public; censure.2. find (someone) guilty of a criminal act or wrong. ∎  sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, esp. death: the rebels had been condemned to death. ∎  (usu. be condemned) officially declare (something, esp. a building) to be unfit for use. ∎  prove or show the guilt of. ∎  (of circumstances) force (someone) to endure something unpleasant or undesirable: the physical ailments that condemned him to a lonely childhood.DERIVATIVES: con·dem·na·ble / -ˈdem(n)əbəl/ adj.con·dem·na·tion / ˌkändemˈnāshən; -dəm-/ n.con·dem·na·to·ry / -ˈdemnəˌtôrē/ adj.

condemn

views updated May 21 2018

condemn. XIII — OF. condem(p)ner (mod. condamner) — L. condem(p)nāre, f. CON- + damnāre DAMN.
So condemnation XIV. — late L.

Condemn

views updated May 21 2018

CONDEMN

To adjudge or find guilty of a crime and sentence. To declare a building or ship unsafe for use or occupancy. To decide that a navigable vessel is a prize or is unfit for service. To take privately owned land for public use in exchange for just compensation by virtue of the power ofeminent domain.