dē, də̇+ transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English debarren, from Middle French desbarrer to remove the bars from a door, from Old French, from des- de- + barrer to fasten with a bar — more at bar
1. : to prevent from an action
government contractors debarred from sitting in Parliament — J.H.Plumb
: shut out : exclude
custom debars certain persons from marriage
: bar from the possession, use, or enjoyment of something
cities like New York … are debarred from a share of modern tax revenues — A.A.Berle
2. : to set a barrier or prohibition against
a gate debars all passage
: deprive
they debarred him from the sacrament
3. : to exclude from membership in a group or class
the qualifications debar most of the best applicants
Synonyms: see exclude
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- debar the tables