Ostracism

Quick meaning: Ostracism is a noun meaning (figuratively) Banishment by some general consent.

Meaning

(figuratively) Banishment by some general consent.

More Meanings

1. Temporary exclusion from a community or society.
2. (historical) In ancient Athens (and some other cities), the temporary banishment by popular vote of a citizen considered dangerous to the state.

Example Sentences

Witnesse the Ostracisme amongst the Athenians, and the Petalisme among the Siracusans.

Take the ſweete herbe called pleaſant content; with that make a perfume about your bed chamber and where you dyne: the ſavour of this is as ſure a repulſe to exile melancholie, as the oſtracisme was to the noble of Athens.

If I have deserved the land should spue me out, I will feed my selfe with the idle and windy conceite of an Ostracisme, and my unregarded poore selfe shall be all the richesse and commpany I crave to transport and if a Princes word […]

For this manner of banishment for a time, called ostracismos, was no punishment for any fault committed, but a mitigation and taking away of the envy of the people, which delighted to pluck down their stomacks that too much seemed to exceed in greatness: […]

Word Forms

• ostracisms

Synonyms for ostracism

Depending on context, synonyms include ostracization, petalism, shunning, avoidance, blackballing, blacklisting.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include banishment, exclusion, disqualification, repudiation, isolation, rejection.

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