SuaviloquyToday’s word

denounce

Denounce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denounced; p. pr. & vb. n. Denouncing.]

Etymology: [F. dénoncer, OF. denoncier, fr. L. denuntiare, denunciare; de- + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, nuntius a messenger, message. See Nuncio, and cf. Denunciate.]

1. To make known in a solemn or official manner; to declare; to proclaim (especially an evil). [Obs.] Denouncing wrath to come. Milton. I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish. Deut. xxx. 18.

2. To proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward sign or expression. His look denounced desperate. Milton.

3. To point out as deserving of reprehension or punishment, etc.; to accuse in a threatening manner; to invoke censure upon; to stigmatize. Denounced for a heretic. Sir T. More. To denounce the immoralities of Julius Cæsar. Brougham.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for denounce; he lists it under condemn.

Where he writes about it:

To denounce is to make public or official declaration against, especially in a violent and threatening manner. — from condemn