damnatio memoriae

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from New Latin damnātiō memoriae (literally “condemnation of memory”).

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /damˌnɑːtɪ.əʊ mɪˈmɔːrɪ.aɪ/, /damˌneɪʃ(ɪ)əʊ mɪˈmɔːrɪ.iː/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /dæmˌnɑti.oʊ məˈmɔri.aɪ/, /dæmˌneɪʃ(i)oʊ məˈmɔri.i/

Noun

damnatio memoriae (uncountable)

  1. (historical, Ancient Rome) A posthumous punishment for traitors etc. by which they were effectively erased from history by having their works undone and any mention of their name forbidden.
    Synonym: (uncommon) damnation of memory

Usage notes

  • While the practice is well attested from Antiquity, the term itself is an early modern invention. It is not known whether the Romans had a specific term for this punishment.

Translations

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