Definition

1. Noun:

   • A formal or authoritative prohibition, especially a court order forbidding a specific action. This is the primary legal meaning.
   • An ecclesiastical censure in the Roman Catholic Church that bars individuals or communities from receiving certain sacraments and Christian burial. This is a specific religious meaning.

2. Verb:

   • To prohibit or forbid by authority. This is the core action of issuing an interdict.
   • To destroy, damage, or cut off (an enemy's supply lines, communications, etc.) by firepower. This is a specific military usage.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The judge issued an interdict preventing the company from dumping waste in the river.
  • During the Middle Ages, a pope could place a town under interdict.
• Verb:
  • The law interdicts the sale of alcohol to minors.
  • The air force's mission was to interdict enemy supply convoys along the main highway.

Advanced Usage

• "To place/put under an interdict": This phrase is commonly used with the noun form, especially in legal and religious contexts.
  • The court placed the disputed property under an interdict.
• The verb form often implies the use of official power or force to stop something.

Variants and Related Words

• Interdiction (n): The act of interdicting. This is the more common noun for the general action.
  • The interdiction of illegal drugs is a key policy.
• Interdictory (adj): Having the nature of an interdict; prohibitive.

Synonyms

• Prohibition (n), Ban (n), Injunction (n), Embargo (n)
• Prohibit (v), Forbid (v), Ban (v), Veto (v), Bar (v)

Related Phrases

• "To seek an interdict": To apply to a court for a prohibitory order.
  • The residents sought an interdict against the noisy construction work.

Noun

1. a court order prohibiting a party from doing a certain activity
2. an ecclesiastical censure by the Roman Catholic Church withdrawing certain sacraments and Christian burial from a person or all persons in a particular district

Verb

1. command against
   • I forbid you to call me late at night
   • Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store
   • Dad nixed our plans
2. destroy by firepower, such as an enemy's line of communication