Ostracism
Pronunciation : Os"tra*cism
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Gr. Ostracize.]
Definition : 1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: Banishment by popular vote, -- a means adopted at Athens to rid the city of a person whose talent and influence gave umbrage.
2. Banishment; exclusion; as, social ostracism. Public envy is as an ostracism, that eclipseth men when they grow too great. Bacon. Sentenced to a perpetual ostracism from the . . . confidence, and honors, and emoluments of his country. A. Hamilton.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913