commination: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Religious, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “commination” mean?
A formal denunciation or threatening of punishment or vengeance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal denunciation or threatening of punishment or vengeance.
A recital of divine threats against sinners, especially the denunciations of God's wrath from the Book of Common Prayer; the act of threatening punishment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is extremely rare in both varieties. It may be slightly more recognised in British English due to its presence in the historical Book of Common Prayer (Anglican). No significant usage difference.
Connotations
Primarily historical/religious in the UK. In the US, it is even more obscure and carries a purely literary or archaic flavour.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Virtually never used in contemporary speech or general writing.
Grammar
How to Use “commination” in a Sentence
a commination against [sin/sinners]a commination of [judgement/punishment]to utter/proclaim a comminationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “commination” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bishop threatened to comminate the heretics.
- The old liturgy comminates those who break the covenant.
American English
- The preacher comminated the sinful city in his sermon.
- The prophet's words comminated judgement upon the nation.
adverb
British English
- He spoke comminatorily, listing every possible calamity.
- The decree was read comminatorily to the assembled crowd.
American English
- The judge addressed the defendant comminatorily.
- The warning was issued comminatorily and in writing.
adjective
British English
- The comminatory psalms were recited during the service.
- His tone was harsh and comminatory.
American English
- She delivered a comminatory speech warning of consequences.
- The document had a comminatory clause.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Possible in historical theology, literary criticism, or studies of rhetoric to describe formal curses or denunciatory speech acts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Possible in very narrow theological discourse referencing specific liturgical texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “commination”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “commination”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “commination”
- Misspelling as 'comminication' or 'commiseration'. Using it as a synonym for a simple complaint or critique, missing its formal, religious, and threatening core.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare, formal, and archaic word. You will almost never encounter it outside of specific religious, historical, or literary contexts.
The related verb is 'comminate', meaning to threaten with divine punishment or to curse. It is even rarer than the noun.
It is a historical Anglican service for Ash Wednesday, based on the Book of Common Prayer, involving the reading of God's curses against sinners, calling the congregation to repentance.
Very rarely. It could be used metaphorically in literature or rhetoric to describe a severe, formal denunciation that resembles a prophetic curse, but this is highly stylised.
A formal denunciation or threatening of punishment or vengeance.
Commination is usually formal, literary, religious, archaic in register.
Commination: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːməˈneɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMMInation' as a COMMUNal denuncIATION pronounced against sinners.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVINE WRATH IS A FORMAL PROCLAMATION / PUNISHMENT IS A SPOKEN CURSE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'commination' be MOST appropriately used?