anathema
/ə'næθimə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication: A formal denunciation and banishment from a church or religious community.
- A detested person or thing: Someone or something that is intensely disliked, loathed, or shunned.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The ancient decree of anathema was a powerful tool for the church.
- His hateful ideology was an anathema to the principles of our society.
- To the peaceful community, violence is an absolute anathema.
Advanced Usage
- "to be anathema to someone/something": To be utterly unacceptable or loathsome to a person or group.
- The proposed policy is anathema to our core values.
- "pronounce/declare anathema upon": To formally curse or denounce.
- The council declared anathema upon the heretical teachings.
Variants and Related Words
- Anathema (verb, archaic): To pronounce an anathema upon; to curse. (Rarely used in modern English).
- Anathema (adjective, obsolete): Accursed or consigned to damnation.
Synonyms
- Curse: A solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm.
- Bane: A cause of great distress or annoyance.
- Abomination: A thing that causes disgust or hatred.
Related Phrases
- Lay someone under anathema: To formally pronounce someone as cursed or excommunicated. (Formal/Historical)
- The bishop laid the apostate under anathema.
Related Idioms
- A thing/person of anathema: A person or thing regarded with intense dislike. (Formal/Literary)
- Corruption was a thing of anathema to the reformer.
Noun
- a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
- a detested person
- he is an anathema to me