condem

Condem is not recognized as a standard English word in contemporary usage. It is typically encountered as a misspelling or mistaken form of the verb condemn. The correct base form is condemn; the standard inflected forms are condemns (third-person singular present), condemning (present participle/gerund), condemned (past tense and past participle).

Definition and use

Condemn means to express strong disapproval of something or someone, or to declare something as wrong, evil, or unacceptable. It also means to sentence someone to punishment, especially by a legal or formal authority. In a physical or safety context, to condemn a building, vehicle, or other structure means to declare it unsafe or unfit for use.

Etymology

The word condemn originates from Latin condemnare, through Old French condamner, ultimately linked to the root meaning to condemn or damn. Modern English retains the core sense of moral or legal judgment.

Examples

- The council condemned the policy as harmful to the community.

- The court condemned him to five years in prison.

- The building was condemned due to structural hazards.

Notes

In standard spelling, condemn is the correct form for all tense and aspect combinations except when spelling or typographical errors occur. Some dialects or historical texts may show alternative spellings, but condemn is the accepted form in modern English. See also condemnations, condemnation, and related terms.