Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - interdict

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, alteration of entredite, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~um prohibition, from neuter of ~us, past participle of interdicere to interpose, forbid, from inter- + dicere to say — more at diction  Date: 15th century  1. a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical censure withdrawing most sacraments and Christian burial from a person or district  2. a prohibitory decree  II. transitive verb  Date: 15th century  1. to lay under or prohibit by an ~  2. to forbid in a usually formal or authoritative manner  3.  a. to destroy, damage, or cut off (as an enemy line of supply) by firepower to stop or hamper an enemy  b. intercept 2a ~ drug shipments  Synonyms: see forbid  • ~ion noun  • ~ive adjective  • ~or noun  • ~ory adjective