From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ostracize \Os"tra*cize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ostracized}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Ostracizing}.] [Gr. 'ostraki`zein, fr.
'o`strakon a tile, a tablet used in voting, a shell; cf.
'o`streon oyster, 'oste`on bone. Cf. {Osseous}, {Oyster}.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.) To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular
vote, as at Athens. --Grote.
[1913 Webster]
2. To banish from society, by a general consent; to exclude
from social, political, or private favor; to exclude from
conversation or friendship; to shun; as, he was ostracized
by his former friends. A person may be ostracized by a
formal vote or by a widespread but informal agreement.
--Marvell.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
ostracize
v 1: expel from a community or group [syn: {banish}, {ban},
{ostracize}, {ostracise}, {shun}, {cast out}, {blackball}]
2: avoid speaking to or dealing with; "Ever since I spoke up, my
colleagues ostracize me" [syn: {ostracize}, {ostracise}]
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