Etymology

interdict

in·ter·dict
I1N1T1E1R1D2I1C3T1

Today it means: 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. Full definition →

First used 13th c.Middle English entrediten ← Old French entredire ← Latin interdīcō
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*deyḱ-
  2. Latin · derived frominterdīcō“prohibit, forbid”
  3. Old French · derived fromentredire“forbid”
  4. Middle English · inherited fromentrediten
  5. English todayinterdict

From Middle English entrediten, from Old French entredire (“forbid”), from Latin interdīcō (“prohibit, forbid”), from inter- (“between”) + dīcō (“say”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ-.

Words from the same roots

Proto-Indo-European*deyḱ- all →

teachtoetokendictionvindicationsyndicvaledictoryswadeshianthropodicy

First known use, by meaning

  • from 13th c. To exclude (someone or somewhere) from participation in church services; to place under a religious interdict.
  • from 16th c. To forbid (an action or thing) by formal or legal sanction.
  • from 16th c. To forbid (someone) from doing something.
  • from 20th c. To impede (an enemy); to interrupt or destroy (enemy communications, supply lines etc).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.