condemnation
UK[ˌkɒndemˈneɪʃən]US[ˌkɑːndemˈneɪʃən]
n
The act of expressing very strong disapproval of someone or something.
n
The punishment of being sent to prison, or the act of sentencing someone to a punishment.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
demn
ation
con
together
demn
ation
Etymology
The word 'condemnation' has a direct lineage from Latin. It originates from the verb condemnare, which is a compound of the intensive prefix con- and the verb damnare, meaning "to sentence" or "to inflict damage." Damnare itself comes from damnum, meaning "loss, damage, or penalty." The term entered English via Old French condempner. The core logic has remained remarkably consistent: the act of pronouncing a formal judgment of severe disapproval or assigning a penalty, evolving from a literal legal sentence to also encompass strong moral censure.
Analysis
Structure: con + demn + ation
- con- (Latin): A prefix meaning "together" or "completely," intensifying the action.
- demn (Latin): A root derived from damnare, meaning "to inflict loss upon" or "to sentence."
- ation (Latin via French): A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or its result.
Examples
There was widespread international condemnation of the regime's actions.
The building's condemnation by the city forced its immediate evacuation.
His speech was a powerful condemnation of social injustice.