commination
a threat of punishment or vengeance.
a denunciation.
(in the Church of England) a penitential office read on Ash Wednesday in which God's anger and judgments are proclaimed against sinners.
Origin of commination
1Other words from commination
- com·mi·na·tor, noun
- com·min·a·to·ry [kuh-min-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, kom-uh-nuh-], /kəˈmɪn əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈkɒm ə nə-/, com·mi·na·tive, adjective
Words Nearby commination
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use commination in a sentence
The breezes that blew around his mouth in that walk carried off upon them the accents of a commination.
Return of the Native | Thomas HardyIn that hour that earlier form of absolution will reverse itself on his lips into one of commination.
The Book-Bills of Narcissus | Le Gallienne, RichardThen Oliver had a try; but in a minute he, too, was reciting the commination service.
The Log of a Sea-Waif | Frank T. BullenThis is as it should be, enabling a sound Briton to go to church, without praying for the commination Service.
They have held commination Services, recited mantras, and cursed us solemnly for days.
The Unveiling of Lhasa | Edmund Candler
British Dictionary definitions for commination
/ (ˌkɒmɪˈneɪʃən) /
the act or an instance of threatening punishment or vengeance
Church of England a recital of prayers, including a list of God's judgments against sinners, in the office for Ash Wednesday
Origin of commination
1Derived forms of commination
- comminatory (ˈkɒmɪnətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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