Ostracism

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɒstɹəsɪz(É™)m/

Origin

From Ancient Greek ὀστρακισμός (otrakismos, "banishment by means of voting with pot shards"), from ὀστρακίζειν ("ostracize") + -ισμός ("-ism").

Full definition of ostracism

Noun

1. (historical) In ancient Athens (and some other cities), the temporary banishment by popular vote of a citizen considered dangerous to the state. from 16th c.
• 1579, Thomas North, Plutarch's Lives Chapter , 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: ...
• 1588, w, The life and complete works in prose and verse of Robert Greene Chapter Perimedes the Blacke-Smith, ... with that make a perfume about your bed chamber, and where you dyne, the sauour of this is as sure a repulse to exile melãcholie, as the Ostracisme was to the noble of Athens.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.32:Witnesse the Ostracisme amongst the Athenians, and the Petalisme among the Siracusans.
2. (figuratively) Banishment by some general consent. from 17th c.
• 1602—3, Lady Arbella Stuart, The Letters of Lady Arbella Stuart Chapter , 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 ...
3. Temporary exclusion from a community or society.

Synonyms

• (exclusion) ostracization, shunning

Derived terms

• ostracize
• ostracise