condemn
UK[kənˈdɛm]US[kənˈdɛm]
v
To express very strong disapproval of someone or something, usually for moral reasons.
v
To sentence someone to a particular punishment, especially death.
v
To force someone to experience something unpleasant or undesirable.
v
To officially declare something, especially a building, to be unsafe or not fit for use.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
demn
con
together, thoroughly
demn
damage, loss
Etymology
The word "condemn" originates from the Latin verb condemnāre, meaning "to sentence, blame, or find guilty." This Latin term is a compound of the intensive prefix con- (thoroughly) and the root damnum (loss, damage, harm). The core logic is of assigning or pronouncing a penalty that causes loss. This literal sense of pronouncing a judicial sentence evolved in English to encompass broader meanings of expressing strong moral disapproval and officially declaring something unfit. The spelling shift from damn- to demn- occurred in Middle English, influenced by related words like "condemnation."
Analysis
Structure: con (together, thoroughly) + demn (damage, loss)
- con-: A prefix from Latin com-, meaning "together, with, thoroughly." It intensifies the meaning of the root.
- demn: A root from Latin damnum, meaning "damage, loss, harm." In English, the spelling was altered from damn- to demn-.
Examples
World leaders were quick to condemn the terrorist attack.
The judge had no choice but to condemn the murderer to life in prison.
The old house was condemned by the city inspectors due to its unstable foundation.