\Ban\ (b[a^]n), n. [AS. bann command, edict; akin to D. ban,
Icel. bann, Dan. band, OHG. ban, G. bann, a public
proclamation, as of interdiction or excommunication, Gr.
fa`nai to say, L. fari to speak, Skr. bhan to speak; cf. F.
ban, LL. bannum, of G. origin. [root]86. Cf. {Abandon},
{Fame}.]
1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice,
   mandatory or prohibitory; a summons by public
   proclamation.
2. (Feudal & Mil.) A calling together of the king's (esp. the
   French king's) vassals for military service; also, the
   body of vassals thus assembled or summoned. In present
   usage, in France and Prussia, the most effective part of
   the population liable to military duty and not in the
   standing army.
3. pl. Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church.
   See {Banns} (the common spelling in this sense).
4. An interdiction, prohibition, or proscription. ``Under ban
   to touch.'' --Milton.
5. A curse or anathema. ``Hecate's ban.'' --Shak.
6. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for
   offending against a ban; as, a mulct paid to a bishop by
   one guilty of sacrilege or other crimes.
{Ban of the empire} (German Hist.), an imperial interdict by
   which political rights and privileges, as those of a
   prince, city, or district, were taken away.

\Ban\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Banned} (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Banning}.] [OE. bannen, bannien, to summon, curse, AS.
bannan to summon; akin to Dan. bande, forbande, to curse, Sw.
banna to revile, bannas to curse. See {Ban} an edict, and cf.
{Banish}.]
1. To curse; to invoke evil upon. --Sir W. Scott.
2. To forbid; to interdict. --Byron.

\Ban\, v. i.
To curse; to swear. [Obs.] --Spenser.

\Ban\, n. [Serv. ban; cf. Russ. & Pol. pan a master? lord,
Per. ban.]
An ancient title of the warden of the eastern marches of
Hungary; now, a title of the viceroy of Croatia and Slavonia.