condamner

The French verb "condamner" primarily means "to condemn" or "to sentence" someone, usually in a legal context. It implies declaring someone guilty of a crime and assigning a punishment.

Main meanings:

1. Legal context:
   To officially declare someone guilty and give them a penalty (prison sentence, fine, etc.).
   Example: Le tribunal a condamné le coupable à cinq ans de prison. (The court sentenced the guilty person to five years in prison.)

2. Figurative or moral condemnation:
   To strongly disapprove or criticize someone's actions or ideas.
   Example: La société condamne la violence. (Society condemns violence.)

3. To block, shut or close something off (less common):
   This can relate to blocking access physically, like sealing a building or part of it.
   Example: Le maire a condamné l’entrée du bâtiment pour sécurité. (The mayor closed off the building entrance for safety.)

Synonyms and nuances:

• Jugé (judged): More general, meaning evaluated or judged, not necessarily with a punitive outcome.
• Punir (to punish): Focuses more on the action of inflicting the punishment rather than the legal decision.
• Réprouver (to disapprove/reprobate): Mainly moral or social disapproval, less formal than "condamner".
• Sanctionner (to sanction/penalize): To impose a penalty or sanction; can be legal or organizational.

Summary:

• "Condamner" is formal and mainly judicial, often involving a legal punishment.
• It can be used figuratively for moral critique.
• In some contexts, it describes physically closing or blocking access to something.