blacklisted
UK[ˈblækˌlɪstɪd]US[ˈblækˌlɪstɪd]
adj
Officially listed as one to be banned, rejected, or punished.
verb (past tense, past participle)
To have placed someone or something on a blacklist.
Morpheme Breakdown
black
list
ed
black
dark, ink.
list
border, strip, or catalog.
ed
Etymology
The term 'blacklist' is a compound formed from two common English words, 'black' and 'list'. The color black has long been associated with negative qualities such as evil, disgrace, or exclusion, as seen in phrases like 'black mark'. A 'list' is simply a recorded catalog. The practice of listing undesirable persons dates to the 17th century, with the specific compound 'blacklist' emerging in the early 19th century, notably used to name those opposed to trade unions. The verb 'to blacklist' and its participial adjective 'blacklisted' logically followed, describing the act and state of being placed on such a register of disapproval or prohibition.
Analysis
Structure: black + list + ed
- black: From Old English blæc, meaning "dark, ink." In this compound, it functions as an adjective implying rejection or disgrace.
- list: From Old English liste, meaning "border, strip, or catalog." Here, it functions as a noun meaning a register or catalog.
- ed: A suffix from Old English -od/-ad, used to form the past tense and past participle of verbs, and adjectives from nouns.
Examples
The company was blacklisted for violating safety regulations.
Several websites have been blacklisted by the government's firewall.
After the scandal, the contractor found himself blacklisted from all major projects.