commination

[ kom-uh-ney-shuhn ]

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

/ -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

Derived Forms

• comminatory, adjective

Other Words From

• commi·nator noun
• com·min·a·to·ry [k, uh, -, min, -, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, kom, -, uh, -n, uh, -], commi·native adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of commination¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of commination¹

C15: from Latin comminātiō, from comminārī to menace, from com- (intensive) + minārī to threaten

Example Sentences

The breezes that blew around his mouth in that walk carried off upon them the accents of a commination.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Then Oliver had a try; but in a minute he, too, was reciting the commination service.

From Project Gutenberg

This is as it should be, enabling a sound Briton to go to church, without praying for the Commination Service.

From Project Gutenberg

They have held Commination Services, recited mantras, and cursed us solemnly for days.

From Project Gutenberg