denunciation
/dɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
noun
Origin
Latin
denuntiare — to proclaim, announce, or warn
Overview
Meaning Now
- A public condemnation of someone or something.
- The action of informing against someone, especially in a legal or political context.
Literal older meaning
a speaking against
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
denunciacion
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term evolved from the legalistic Latin 'denuntiare,' which referred to an official notification. By the medieval period, it took on a more specific sense of 'informing' on someone to authorities, eventually shifting toward the modern meaning of strong public disapproval.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
denuntiare
“to give official notice, warn”
- Old French
denonciacion
“proclamation, formal accusation”
- Middle English
denunciacioun
“a formal accusation or public censure”
Connections
Word parts
de-
prefix
down or away
nuntiare
root
to announce
-tion
suffix
forming a noun of action
Related across languages
French
dénonciation
denunciation
Spanish
denunciación
denunciation
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.