interdict

The definition of an interdict is an absolute order not to do something issued by a person in authority.

(noun)

An order issued by the King forbidding his subjects from eating meat on Tuesday is an example of an interdict.

To interdict is defined as to prohibit or forbid or restrain.

(verb)

When the President passes a law forbidding the use of drugs, this is an example of a time when the President interdicts the use of drugs.

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See interdict in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to prohibit (an action) or prohibit the use of (a thing); forbid with authority
  2. to restrain from doing or using something
  3. to impede or hinder (the enemy) or isolate (an area, route, etc.) by firepower or bombing
  4. R.C.Ch. to exclude (a person, parish, etc.) from certain acts, sacraments, or privileges

Origin: altered (infl. by L interdictus) < ME entrediten < n. entredit: see interdict below

noun

  1. an official prohibition or restraint
  2. R.C.Ch. an interdicting of a person, parish, etc.

Origin: altered (infl. by L) < ME entredit < OFr < L interdictum < pp. of interdicere, to forbid, prohibit, lit., to speak between < inter- (see inter-) + dicere, to speak (see diction)

Related Forms:

See interdict in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb in·ter·dict·ed, in·ter·dict·ing, in·ter·dicts
  1. To prohibit or place under an ecclesiastical or legal sanction.
  2. To forbid or debar, especially authoritatively. See Synonyms at forbid.
  3. a. To cut or destroy (a line of communication) by firepower so as to halt an enemy's advance.
    b. To confront and halt the activities, advance, or entry of: “the role of the FBI in interdicting spies attempting to pass US secrets to the Soviet Union” (Christian Science Monitor).
noun (ĭnˈtər-dĭktˌ)
  1. Law A prohibition by court order.
  2. Roman Catholic Church An ecclesiastical censure that excludes a person or district from participation in most sacraments and from Christian burial.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of Middle English enterditen, to place under a church ban

Origin: , from Old French entredit

Origin: , past participle of entredire, to forbid

Origin: , from Latin interdīcere, interdict-

Origin: : inter-, inter-

Origin: + dīcere, to say; see deik- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • inˌter·dicˈtion noun
  • inˌter·dicˈtive, inˌter·dicˈto·ry (-dĭkˈtə-rē) adjective
  • inˌter·dicˈtive·ly adverb
  • inˌter·dicˈtor noun

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