What does excommunicative mean?
Excommunicative refers to the act or state of excluding someone from a community, organization, or group, often in a formal or ritualistic manner. This term is often associated with religious or ecclesiastical contexts, where excommunication is a serious penalty. The word can also imply a sense of severity or finality, suggesting that the exclusion is permanent or irreversible. In formal or religious contexts, excommunicative can be used to describe actions or decisions that have significant consequences. For example, a church might issue an excommunicative decree against a member who has committed a serious offense. The term can also be used in a more general sense to describe any action or decision that results in exclusion or ostracism. Overall, excommunicative is a useful word for describing situations where someone is formally or ritually excluded from a group or community.
adjectiveRelating to or characterized by excommunication; having the power to excommunicate.
- Relating to or characterized by excommunication; having the power to excommunicate.
"The excommunicative actions of the church were widely criticized."
"The excommunicative actions of the church were widely criticized."
"The priest's excommunicative words shocked the congregation."
The plural form is used to describe multiple instances of excommunication or exclusion.
"The church issued multiple excommunicatives against members who had committed serious offenses."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of excommunicative
The word excommunicative comes from the Latin words 'ex' meaning 'out of' and 'communicare' meaning 'to share' or 'to communicate'. The term is derived from the concept of excommunication, which originated in the early Christian church. In this context, excommunication referred to the act of excluding someone from the community of believers. Over time, the term has evolved to include a broader range of meanings, including the idea of excluding someone from a group or organization.
How excommunicative is actually used
In formal or religious contexts, excommunicative can imply a sense of severity or finality. It is often used to describe actions or decisions that have significant consequences.