| Ostracize | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ostracized p. pr. & vb. n. Ostracizing ] [ Gr. 'ostraki`zein, fr. 'o`strakon a tile, a tablet used in voting, a shell; cf. 'o`streon oyster, 'oste`on bone. Cf. Osseous, Oyster. ] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular vote, as at Athens. Grote. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To banish from society, by a general consent; to exclude from social, political, or private favor; to exclude from conversation or friendship; to shun; as, he was ostracized by his former friends. A person may be ostracized by a formal vote or by a widespread but informal agreement. Marvell. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ] |
