commination Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun prayers proclaiming God's anger against sinners; read in the Church of England on Ash Wednesday
  2. noun a threat of divine punishment or vengeance

WordNet

Com`mi*na"tion noun
Etymology
L. comminatio, from comminary to threaten; com- + minari to threaten: cf. F. commination.
Definitions
  1. A threat or threatening; a denunciation of punishment or vengeance.
    With terrible comminations to all them that did resist. I. Taylor.
  2. An office in the liturgy of the Church of England, used on Ash Wednesday, containing a recital of God's anger and judgments against sinners.

Webster 1913