condemnor

Condemnor is a noun referring to a person who pronounces condemnation, typically in formal contexts such as legal proceedings or ecclesiastical tribunals. The term is uncommon in modern English and is often regarded as archaic or literary.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin condemnare, meaning “to condemn,” with the agent noun suffix -or. Variant spellings include condemner and, less commonly, condemnor.

Historical usage: In medieval and early modern legal and religious documents, a condemnor might be the official who pronounces a verdict or determines punishment after conviction. In some contexts, the condemnor was a designated authority within a court, tribunal, or church responsible for declaring sentences of punishment, banishment, or excommunication.

Modern usage: The word is rarely used outside historical writing or stylized fiction. Contemporary language typically employs terms such as judge, jury, or excommunicator, and describes the action with condemn or condemnation rather than focusing on the actor as condemnor.

See also: condemnation, verdict, sentence, excommunication.