- Ban
- Ban Ban (b[a^]n), n. [AS. bann command, edict; akin to D. ban,
Icel. bann, Dan. band, OHG. ban, G. bann, a public
proclamation, as of interdiction or excommunication, Gr.
fa`nai to say, L. fari to speak, Skr. bhan to speak; cf. F.
ban, LL. bannum, of G. origin. [root]86. Cf. {Abandon},
{Fame}.]
1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice,
mandatory or prohibitory; a summons by public
proclamation.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Feudal & Mil.) A calling together of the king's (esp. the French king's) vassals for military service; also, the body of vassals thus assembled or summoned. In present usage, in France and Prussia, the most effective part of the population liable to military duty and not in the standing army. [1913 Webster]
3. pl. Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church. See {Banns} (the common spelling in this sense). [1913 Webster]
4. An interdiction, prohibition, or proscription. ``Under ban to touch.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]
5. A curse or anathema. ``Hecate's ban.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
6. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for offending against a ban; as, a mulct paid to a bishop by one guilty of sacrilege or other crimes. [1913 Webster]
{Ban of the empire} (German Hist.), an imperial interdict by which political rights and privileges, as those of a prince, city, or district, were taken away. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
