ostracize
Ostracize (verb) means to ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ὀστρακίζω (ostrakízō, “to banish from a city by ostracism”), from ὄστρᾰκον (óstrăkon, “earthenware vessel; fragment of such a vessel, potsherd”) (from the fact that when voting was held to decide whether to banish people, their names were inscribed on potsherds) + -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō, suffix forming verbs)). The English word is cognate with French ostraciser.
Rhymes for ostracize
See all rhymes for ostracize →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of ostracize?
"ostracize" (verb) means to ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism.
What are the different meanings of ostracize?
"ostracize" has 2 main meanings: 1. To ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism; 2. To exclude a person from a community or from society by not communicating with them or by refusing to acknowledge their presence; to refuse to associate with or talk to; to shun.