Defn: Banishment by popular vote, — a means adopted at Athens to rid the city of a person whose talent and influence gave umbrage.
2. Banishment; exclusion; as, social ostracism. Public envy is as an ostracism, that eclipseth men when they grow too great. Bacon. Sentenced to a perpetual ostracism from the . . . confidence, and honors, and emoluments of his country. A. Hamilton.
OSTRACITE
Os"tra*cite, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil oyster.
OSTRACIZE
Os"tra*cize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ostracized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ostracizing.] Etym: [Gr. Osseous, Oyster.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular vote, as at
Athens. Grote.
2. To banish from society; to put under the ban; to cast out from social, political, or private favor; as, he was ostracized by his former friends. Marvell.
OSTRACODA
Os*trac"o*da, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ostracoidea.