Etymology : Middle English, from Old French denoncier to proclaim, from Latin denuntiare, from de- + nuntiare to report; more at ANNOUNCE
Pronunciation : di-'naun(t)s, dE-
Function : transitive verb
Date : 13th century
1. condemn, censure; accuse. denounce\de*nounce"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. denounced ; p. pr. & vb. n. denouncing.] [f. dénoncer, of. denoncier, fr. l. denuntiare, denunciare; de- + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, nuntius a messenger, message. see:
nuncio, and cf. denunciate.].
2. to make known in a solemn or official manner; to declare; to proclaim (especially an evil). [obs.] denouncing wrath to come. i denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish. xxx.
3. 2. to proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward sign or expression. his look denounced desperate.
4. to point out as deserving of reprehension or punishment, etc.; to accuse in a threatening manner; to invoke censure upon; to stigmatize. denounced for a heretic. t. more. to denounce the immoralities of julius c?sar.denounce v.
5. speak out against; "he denounced the nazis".
6. to accuse or condemn openly or formally: "he denounced the government action." [syn: stigmatize, brand, mark].
7. announce the termination of, as of treaties.
8. give away information about somebody; "he told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam" [syn: tell on, betray, give away, rat, grass, peach, shit, shop, snitch, stag].
9. To make known in a solemn or official manner; to declare; to proclaim.
10. To proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward sign or expression.
11. To point out as deserving of reprehension or punishment, etc.; to accuse in a threatening manner; to invoke censure upon; to stigmatize. speak out against; "He denounced the Nazis" give away information about somebody; "He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam" announce the termination of, as of treaties.
12. 1. If you denounce a person or an action, you criticize them severely and publicly because you feel strongly that they are wrong or evil. German leaders denounced the attacks and pleaded for tolerance Some 25,000 demonstrators denounced him as a traitor.
13. If you denounce someone who has broken a rule or law, you report them to the authorities. informers who might denounce you at any moment.