condemnare

Condemnare is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning to condemn, to sentence (to declare someone guilty and impose a penalty), or to condemn as unacceptable. In legal, moral, and ecclesiastical contexts it can denote pronouncing punishment upon a person or deeming something blameworthy.

Etymology and forms: The verb belongs to the first conjugation. Principal parts: condemnō, condemnāre, condemnāvī, condemnātus. Present active indicative: condemnō, condemnās, condemnat, condemnāmus, condemnātis, condemnant. Imperfect: condemnābam, condemnābās, condemnābat, etc.; perfect: condemnāvī, condemnāvistī, condemnāvit; pluperfect: condemnāveram, condemnāverās, etc. Passive forms include condemnor, condemnāris, condemnātur, condemnāmur, condemnāminī, condemnantur. Supine: condemnātum; perfect passive participle: condemnātus. Related noun: condemnātiō, condemnātiōnis, “condemnation.”

Usage and translation: In classical Latin, condemnare commonly governs a direct object (the person or thing condemned) and may specify the penalty, such as ad mortem condemnāre “to condemn to death.” The related noun condemnātiō means “condemnation.” The verb is often translated as “to condemn” or “to sentence,” depending on context. The phrase ad mortem condemnāre exemplifies the legal sense; passive constructions such as condemnātor (present) or condemnātus sum (I am condemned) show other syntactic possibilities.

Notes and cognates: The English word condemn derives from Latin condemnare via French condamner, and the Latin noun condemnātiō yields the sense “condemnation.” In modern Romance languages, cognates remain common (for example, Italian condannare, French condamner).