interdict

A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anointing of the Sick is excepted.

Noun

  1. A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anointing of the Sick is excepted.
  2. An injunction.
    • The Fife County Council, and other objectors, were successful in July [1950] in obtaining an interim interdict against this decision, but the Court of Session withdrew the interdict in January, and it was then stated...
    • In May [1995], the court issued an interdict preventing the service withdrawal, pending consultation on the closure to passenger traffic of three short stretches of railway around Glasgow and its hinterland that were...

Origin

From Middle English entrediten, from Old French entredire (“forbid”), from Latin interdīcō (“prohibit, forbid”), from inter- (“between”) + dīcō (“say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-.

Forms

interdicts

Verb

  1. To exclude (someone or somewhere) from participation in church services; to place under a religious interdict.
    • An archbishop [may not only] excommunicate and interdict his suffragans, but his Vicar-General may also do the same. - 1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the...
  2. To forbid (an action or thing) by formal or legal sanction.
    • Charged not to touch the interdicted tree. - 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias...
  3. To forbid (someone) from doing something.
    • Do not look so alarmed, Madame; every possible precaution has been taken to prevent infection. I have given the strictest orders to interdict any communication between her attendants and those devoted to your service. -...
  4. To impede (an enemy); to interrupt or destroy (enemy communications, supply lines etc).
    • Grant did not cease his efforts to interdict Lee's supply lines and break through the defenses. - 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2004, page 756:

Forms

interdicts interdicting interdicted

Related

interdiction interdictive interdictory interdictively interdictor