commination

UK: /ˌkɒmɪˈneɪʃən/ US: (kom′ə nā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

com•mi•na•tion  (kom′ə nā′shən), n. 

1. a threat of punishment or vengeance.
2. a denunciation.
3. Religion (in the Church of England) a penitential office read on Ash Wednesday in which God's anger and judgments are proclaimed against sinners.

• Latin comminātiōn- (stem of comminātīo), equivalent. to commināt(us), past participle of comminārī to threaten (com- com- + minārī to threaten) + -iōn- -ion
• Anglo-French)
• 1400–50; late Middle English (

com′mi•na′tor, n. 
com•min•a•to•ry  (kə min′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, kom′ə nə-), com′mi•na′tive, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

commination / ˌkɒmɪˈneɪʃən/ noun

1. the act or an instance of threatening punishment or vengeance
2. a recital of prayers, including a list of God's judgments against sinners, in the office for Ash Wednesday

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin comminātiō, from comminārī to menace, from com- (intensive) + minārī to threaten

comminatory / ˈkɒmɪnətərɪ -trɪ/, comminative / ˈkɒmɪnəˌtɪv/ adjective