Forms: 4 condempnacioun, 5–6 -acione, 6 -dempnation, -demnacion, -acyon, 6– -ation. [ad. L. condemnātiōn-em, n. of action f. condemnāre to condemn. Cf. F. condamnation (16th c. in Littré).]
1. The action of condemning or of pronouncing adverse judgment on; judicial conviction; expression of disapprobation or strong censure; the fact of being condemned: as in ‘your condemnation of me,’ ‘my condemnation by you.’
1382. Wyclif, Rom. v. 18. As by the gilt of oon in to alle men in to condempnacioun.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 303. After his iniust condemnacyon to deth.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 596. He thought neyther of death, nor of condempnation to die: such affiaunce had he in his strong truth.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxvi. 144. A manifest condemnation of the Innocent.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 27. His illiberal condemnation of a medicine.
1858. Ld. Mahon, Hist. Eng. (ed. 5), I. 199. Yet no one has even ventured to assert that any of the condemnations were legally unjust.
1874. Green, Short Hist., v. 228. The Parliament proceeded to the impeachment and condemnation of two ministers.
attrib. 1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1754. The chaplain … preached the condemnation sermon on repentance, before the convicts.
2. The state or condition of being condemned.
1557. N. T. (Geneva), Luke xxiii. 40. Fearest thou not God, seing thou art in the same condemnation?
1671. Milton, P. R., III. 136. To whom belongs But condemnation, ignominy and shame.
3. The ground or reason for condemning.
1534. Tindale, John iii. 19. This is the condempnacion, that light is come into the world, and the men loued darcknes more then light.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. v. 98. Speake, or thy silence on the instant, is Thy condemnation, and thy death.
4. A sentence of forfeiture. Cf. CONDEMN 7.
1885. Rigby, in Law Rep., 29 Chanc. Div. 286. A condemnation on the express ground that the ship is enemy’s property.
