ostracism

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὀστρακισμός (ostrakismós, “banishment by means of voting with pot shards”), from ὀστρακίζειν (ostrakízein, “ostracize”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɒstɹəsɪz(ə)m/

Noun

ostracism (countable and uncountable, plural ostracisms)

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, volume 2, translation of original by Plutarch, published 1898, Themistocles, page 35:

     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, Robert Greene, “Perimedes the Blacke-Smith”, in Alexander Balloch Grosart, editor, The life and complete works in prose and verse of Robert Greene, volume 7, published 1886, page 19:

     […] 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, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, […], printed at London: […] Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
     , 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, Sara Jayne Steen, editor, The Letters of Lady Arbella Stuart, New York: Oxford University Press, published 1994, page 171:

     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.

See also

• send to Coventry

Anagrams

• Castroism, Croatisms, Socratism, microsats, rotacisms