-io

an action, process, or result

Forms

-io
-ion- — The longer form used before Latin endings.
-ion — The form carried into many English nouns.

Origin

An old Latin noun ending, inherited from earlier Indo-European word formation.

Note

The ending can name both an activity and what that activity produces.

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noun

excommunication

eks-kuh-myoo-nih-KAY-shun/ˌekskəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃn/

Formal exclusion from membership or participation in a church community.

After excommunication, a worshiper stands outside the church’s closed doors.

An excluded adult stands outside closed church doors while a congregation is faintly visible inside.

Etymology

exLatinout, away; also thoroughly

+communicatLatinshare or make common

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The underlying idea is being put ‘out’ of sharing in a community. In church use, this means formal deprivation of communion and religious privileges, rather than merely an end to exchanging messages.

In context

FactFabLab0:33

Excommunication meant spiritual death. The church declared, "You cut off from the sacraments, no mass, no confession, no Christian burial."

Excommunicated: What Happened When You Crossed the Medieval Church

More examples

The bishop threatens excommunication if the priest refuses to recant.
Her excommunication prevents her from receiving communion.
The church lifts his excommunication after he reconciles with its leaders.

Forms

excommunication · excommunications

excommunicate verb — To formally exclude someone from church participation.

Similar words

expulsion: Removal from any organization, not specifically a church community.
ostracism: Social exclusion rather than an official church penalty.