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interdict

noun, verb — 6 senses

interdict

noun

US /ˈɪntɚdɪkt/ · UK /ˈɪntədɪkt/

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

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 that a civil court had no jurisdiction in the matter. […] Mr. Waller adds that when the railway was authorised in 1897, one of the clauses of the Act authorising the transfer of the line to the North British Railway provided that that company should work it in perpetuity, and it was this clause that caused the interim interdict to be granted.1951 April, “Notes and News: North Fife Line, Scotland”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 281:
  • 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 only used by the Fort William Sleeper - and for which BR had failed to invoke standard closure procedures.2021 August 25, David Clough, “The Sleeper experience”, in RAIL, number 938, page 61:

interdict

verb

US /ɪntɚˈdɪkt/ · UK /ɪntəˈdɪkt/

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

1

Catholicism, Christianity, Roman Catholicism 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 Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], →OCLC:
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 Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
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.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XL, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 337:
4

Government, Military, Politics, War US 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:
Related terms
interdiction, interdictive, interdictory, interdictively, interdictor

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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