con·demn   (kən-děm')    tr.v.   con·demned, con·demn·ing, con·demns To express strong disapproval of: condemned the needless waste of food. To pronounce judgment against; sentence: condemned the felons to prison. To judge or declare to be unfit for use or consumption, usually by official order: condemn an old building. To lend credence to or provide evidence for an adverse judgment against: were condemned by their actions. Law To appropriate (property) for public use. [Middle English condemnen, from Old French condemner, from Latin condemnāre : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + damnāre, to sentence (from damnum, penalty).] con·dem'na·ble (-děm'nə-bəl) adj., con·dem'na·to'ry (-nə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj., con·demn'er (-děm'ər), con·dem'nor (-děm'ər, -děm-nôr') n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to determine the punishment or destiny of one found to be guilty or undeserving: condemned the dissident to hard labor; damned the murderer to everlasting misery; an attempt that was doomed to failure; sentenced the traitor to life in prison. See Also Synonyms at criticize.

Condemn

Con*demn"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condemned; p. pr. & vb. n. Condemning (? or ?).] [L. condemnare; con- + damnare to condemn: cf. F. condamner. See Damn.]

1. To pronounce to be wrong; to disapprove of; to censure.

Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemned ere it be done. --Shak.

Wilt thou condemn him that is most just? --Job xxxiv. 17.

2. To declare the guilt of; to make manifest the faults or unworthiness of; to convict of guilt.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it. --Matt. xii. 42.

3. To pronounce a judicial sentence against; to sentence to punishment, suffering, or loss; to doom; -- with to before the penalty.

Driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorred deep to utter woe. --Milton.

To each his sufferings; all are men, Condemned alike to groan. --Gray.

And they shall condemn him to death. --Matt. xx. 18.

The thief condemned, in law already dead. --Pope.

No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn. --Goldsmith.

4. To amerce or fine; -- with in before the penalty.

The king of Egypt . . . condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver. --2 Cron. xxxvi. 3.

5. To adjudge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service; to adjudge or pronounce to be forfeited; as, the ship and her cargo were condemned.

6. (Law) To doom to be taken for public use, under the right of eminent domain.

Syn: To blame; censure; reprove; reproach; upbraid; reprobate; convict; doom; sentence; adjudge.

condemn 

Main Entry: con·demn
Pronunciation: k&n-'dem
Function: transitive verb
1 : to impose a penalty on; especially : to sentence to death
2 : to adjudge unfit for use or consumption
3 : to declare convertible to public use under the right of eminent domain : TAKE —con·dem·nable /k&n-'dem-n&-b&l, -'de-m&-/ adjective —con·dem·na·tion /"kän-"dem-'nA-sh&n/ noun —con·demn·er or con·dem·nor /k&n-'de-m&r, -'dem-"nor/ noun