Verbannen

Verbannen is a Dutch verb meaning to banish, exile, or ostracize someone from a place, organization, or community. It denotes removing a person from public life or from a specific domain, and can be used in legal, historical, religious, or informal contexts. The term can be applied literally—such as expelling a person from a country—or metaphorically, to exclude someone from a group or society.

Etymology and related terms: Verbannen derives from the Dutch verb bannen (to ban) with the prefix ver-, forming a sense of removal or decree. It is cognate with related Germanic forms such as the German verb verbannen and with the broader English concept of a ban. The word’s sense has historically encompassed both formal expulsion by authorities and social exclusion.

Usage and grammar: Verbannen is a transitive verb that takes a direct object and often a prepositional complement indicating the source of exclusion, for example verbannen uit het land or verbannen uit een gemeenschap. The past participle is verbannen, and the verb follows standard Dutch conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -nen. The passive voice can be formed with zijn: iemand is verbannen.

Contexts and nuance: In historical and legal contexts, banishment was a formal sanction imposed by rulers, churches, or states. In modern usage, the term can describe both official expulsions and broader social ostracism, though contemporary human rights norms often constrain such measures. Verbannen remains a strong term, signaling lasting or irreversible removal.

See also: ban, banishment, expulsion, ostracism.