Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Banish

Ban′ish

(băn′ĭsh)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Banished
(băn′ĭsht)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Banishing
.]
[OF.
banir
, F.
bannir
, LL.
bannire
, fr. OHG.
bannan
to summon, fr.
ban
ban. See
Ban
an edict, and
Finish
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
To condemn to exile, or compel to leave one’s country, by authority of the ruling power.
“We banish you our territories.”
Shak.
2.
To drive out, as from a home or familiar place; – used with from and out of.
How the ancient Celtic tongue came to be
banished
from the Low Countries in Scotland.
Blair.
3.
To drive away; to compel to depart; to dispel.
“Banish all offense.”
Shak.
Syn. – To
Banish
,
Exile
,
Expel
.
The idea of a coercive removal from a place is common to these terms. A man is banished when he is forced by the government of a country (be he a foreigner or a native) to leave its borders. A man is exiled when he is driven into banishment from his native country and home. Thus to exile is to banish, but to banish is not always to exile. To expel is to eject or banish summarily or authoritatively, and usually under circumstances of disgrace;
as, to
expel
from a college;
expelled
from decent society
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Banish

BAN'ISH

, v.t.
1.
To condemn to exile, or compel to leave one's country, by authority of the prince or government, either for life or for a limited time. It is common for Russians to be banished to Siberia.
27
2.
To drive away; to compel to depart; as, to banish sorrow.
3.
To quit one's country voluntarily, and with a view to reside abroad; as, he banished himself.