interdict

Noun

interdict (plural interdicts)

1. A papal decree prohibiting the administration of the sacraments from a political entity under the power of a single person (e.g., a king or an oligarchy with similar powers). Extreme unction/Anointing of the Sick is excepted.
2. (Scots law) An injunction.
   • The Fife County Council, and other objectors, were successful in July [1950] in obtaining an interim interdict against this decision, but the Court of Session withdrew the interdict in January, and it was then stated that a civil court had no jurisdiction in the matter. […] Mr. Waller adds that...1951 April, “Notes and News: North Fife Line, Scotland”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 281
   • In May [1995], the court issued an interdict preventing the service withdrawal, pending consultation on the closure to passenger traffic of three short stretches of railway around Glasgow and its hinterland that were only used by the Fort William Sleeper - and for which BR had failed to invoke...2021 August 25, David Clough, “The Sleeper experience”, in RAIL, number 938, page 61

Verb

US/ɪntɚˈdɪkt/UK/ɪntəˈdɪkt/

interdict (third-person singular simple present interdicts, present participle interdicting, simple past and past participle interdicted)

1. (transitive) To exclude (someone or somewhere) from participation in church services; to place under a religious interdict.
   • An archbishop [may not only] excommunicate and interdict his suffragans, but his Vicar-General may also do the same.1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John...
2. (transitive) To forbid (an action or thing) by formal or legal sanction.
   • Charged not to touch the interdicted tree.1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
3. (transitive) To forbid (someone) from doing something.
   • Do not look so alarmed, Madame; every possible precaution has been taken to prevent infection. I have given the strictest orders to interdict any communication between her attendants and those devoted to your service.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XL, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 337
4. (US, transitive) To impede (an enemy); to interrupt or destroy (enemy communications, supply lines etc).
   • Grant did not cease his efforts to interdict Lee's supply lines and break through the defenses.1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2004, page 756