The formal exclusion of a person from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church as a penalty for serious offenses. This punishment effectively cut individuals off from the religious community and, in medieval times, often from society itself.
From Latin 'excommunicatio,' meaning 'to put out of the community.' The term combines 'ex-' (out of) and 'communicare' (to share), originally referring to being cut off from communion with the Church.
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