v. Forms: 3–4 condemp, 4–6 -dempn(e, 7 condem, -demne, 6– condemn. Also 4–6 condampn, 6 -damn. [a. OF. condemne-r, -dempne-r, also from 13th c. condamner, ad. L. condem(p)nāre to condemn, convict, sentence, etc., f. con- together, or intensive + dam(p)nā-re to damage, hurt, condemn. In Fr. the verb settled down into the form condamner (cf. It. condannare), which was also frequent in Eng. from 14th to 16th c.; but here the influence of the Lat. caused the final prevalence of condemn.]
1. trans. To pronounce an adverse judgment on; to express strong disapproval of, censure, blame.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18176 (Gött.), Quat ert þu … þat … Condempnid þu þus all vr pouste?
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., 4. The clergie which summe of the comoun peple … Iugen and Condempnen to be yuele.
1559. Bp. Scot, in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. x. 29. We do not unadvisedly condempne our forefathers and their doings.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. iv. 141. I could condemne it as an improbable fiction.
1661. Bramhall, Just Vind., ii. 7. So long as they forbear to censure and condemn one another.
1788. Reid, Aristotle’s Log., iv. § 1. 68. This is a fault in reasoning which Aristotle condemns.
1871. R. W. Dale, Commandm., ii. 41. The second Commandment condemns a very different sin from that which is condemned in the first.
b. Said of witnesses and acts: To procure the condemnation of, to bring about the conviction of.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. iv. 16. Forsothe the riȝtwis dead condempneth the unpitous men on liue. Ibid., Matt. xii. 41. Men of Nynyue shal ryse in dome with this generacioun, and shulen condempne it.
1509. Fisher, Wks., 242. If I wolde iustyfy myn owne selfe, my wordes shall condempne me.
1611. Bible, Matt. xii. 42. The Queene of the South shall rise vp in the iudgement with this generation, and shall condemne it.
1632. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 22. Concealing such things as might condemne her selfe for a mediatrix.
Mod. Their looks condemn them. His subsequent conduct condemns him.
c. absol.
1535. Coverdale, Luke vi. 37. Condempne not and ye shal not be condempned.
2. To give judicial sentence against; to find guilty, convict. Opposed to acquit, absolve.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, cviii. 6. When he is demyd ga he out condempnyd.
1388. Wyclif, Mark xiv. 64. And thei alle condempneden hym to be gilti of deeth.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Clarence, li. I giltles was condemned.
1611. Bible, Deut. xxv. 1. If there bee a controuersie betweene men, and they come vnto iudgment, that the Iudges may iudge them, then they shall iustifie the righteous, and condemne the wicked.
1680. G. Hickes, Spir. Popery, 35. She was since Arraigned and Condemn[ed] for the horrid Murder.
1735. Pope, Sat., VII. 15. The thief condemn’d, in law already dead.
1795. Gent. Mag., LXV. I. 519. The execution of two men condemned by a general court martial for riotous and disorderly conduct.
1879. W. Smith, Smaller Hist. Eng., 156. Cranmer had been tried and condemned with Latimer and Ridley.
b. absol.
1647. Saltmarsh, Sparkl. Glory (1847), 177. I dare not judge, nor condemn, nor conclude.
3. esp. with the penalty expressed, as condemn to death, to be beheaded: formerly also in a fine or forfeiture.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 3. The kyng of Egipt … condempnede the lond in an hundrith talentis of syluer.
c. 1400. Maundev., x. (1839), 114. The oþere schall he condempne to perpetuell peynes.
1425. Paston Lett., No. 5, I. 21. Sir John Paston … hath optyned me condempnyd to hym in CCC [vij] marcz.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), 44. Condemned to suffer suche payne.
1526–34. Tindale, Luke xxiv. 20. To be condempned to deeth.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., II. (Arb.), 145. Condempned him into exile.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 419. We doe condemne thee to the very Blocke.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 19. Condemned in as much as they are worth.
1713. Mem. Sign. Rozelli (ed. 2), I. 212. They condemn’d me to perpetual Imprisonment.
1779. W. Alexander, Hist. Women (1782), II. 98. Such as broke their conjugal vow should be condemned to perpetual celibacy.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. 229. A woman … was … condemned to be whipped through all the market towns … in Dorset.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vi. 268. Condemned to do penance in the streets of London.
4. To pronounce guilty of (a crime or fault).
1535. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 28. And there condempned of highe treason against the Kinge.
1600. Holland, Livy, VII. xiii. 257. Supposing themselves by you condemned of cowardise.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., II. 97. She was condemned of incest and buried alive.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., V. i. 295. Condemn him of a mis-expence of his Time or Talents.
1718. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 353. The Synod … condemned him of heterodoxy.
1882. J. C. Morison, Macaulay, iii. 76. It is vastly more comforting to hear Dr Lingard condemn James II. of injustice, infatuation, arbitrary and impotent policy, than to hear the most eloquent indictments of the same monarch from those who hold Whig opinions.
5. To doom to punishment in the world to come, to damn.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 26. In hell condampnyt mot he be.
1563. Nowel, in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847), 496. God doth punishe us in this worlde, that we should not be condempned with the wicked in the worlde to come.
1540–78. Gude & Godlie Ballates (1868), 21. We had eternallie in hell condampnit bene.
† b. absol. To damn. Obs.
c. 1460. Sir R. Ros, trans. La Belle Dame, 374, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 64. Ye and othir that swere suche othis faste, and soo condempne & cursen too & froo.
6. fig. To doom or devote to some unkind) fate or condition; in pass. to be doomed by fate to some condition or to do something.
1653. Walton, Angler, i. 5. Men that are condemn’d to be rich.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, xxviii. 131. They [Reindeer] are tamed; one sort being condemned to the Sledge … others to carry burdens.
1734. Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 263. Condemn’d in bus’ness or in arts to drudge.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 58. A tract of sea … condemned to perpetual calms.
7. To adjudge or pronounce forfeited, as a prize of war, smuggled goods, etc.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4143/4. 8 Casks of Brandy, seized and condemned according to Law.
1783. Gent. Mag., LIII. I. 175. If it [i.e., a Dutch ship] is condemned as a prize it is said the whole will belong to Lord North.
1873. Act 36 & 37 Vict., c. 88 § 2. The court … having jurisdiction to try and condemn a vessel engaged in the slave trade.
8. To pronounce judicially or officially to be unfit for use or for consumption.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 106. We condenned twenty-one Fathom of our best Bower-Cable as unfit for Use.
1776. Voy. under Byron, 139. We found the Falmouth man of war condemned and lying ashore.
1867. J. Timbs, Wonderf. Invent. (1882), 358. Several rifles on this model were … condemned … from the escape of gas round the needle.
1876. Glen, Public Health Act, 1875, III. (ed. 8), 94. If [it] … is diseased or unsound or unwholesome or unfit for the food of man, he shall condemn the same, and order it to be destroyed.
9. To pronounce incurable, to give up.
a. 1831. A. Knox, Rem. (1844), I. 38. The sick man’s feeling is gloomy, because it condemns him.
1862. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 46. No man considers himself richer because he is condemned by his physician.
10. Of a door or window: To close or block up. (Cf. Fr. condamner une porte, une fenêtre.)
c. 1565. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot., 488 (Jam.). The Frenchmen … condemned all the close and wall heidis that war within the castle.
1880. H. James, Portr. Lady, iii. The door that had been condemned, and that was fastened by bolts.
1884. C. Reade, in Harper’s Mag., March, 637/2. ‘I condemned it ten years ago.’ ‘Full that,’ said Pierre; ‘’twas I nailed it up.’
