imprecation
/,impri'keiʃn/
Definition
- Noun:
- A spoken curse; a malediction: An imprecation is a formal or serious utterance that calls for harm, evil, or misfortune to befall someone or something. It is a verbal invocation of a curse.
- A slanderous accusation; a vehement denunciation: An imprecation can also refer to a strong verbal attack that includes harsh criticism or defamatory statements, often serving as an insult.
Usage and Examples
- As a spoken curse:
- The old witch muttered an imprecation against those who had wronged her.
- He shouted imprecations at the driver who cut him off in traffic.
- As a vehement denunciation:
- The politician's speech was filled with imprecations against his opponents.
- She endured the imprecations of the angry crowd.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Formal and Literary Context: The word is most commonly found in formal, literary, or historical contexts. It conveys a stronger, more deliberate, and often more ritualistic sense of cursing than common words like "swearing."
- Intent to Harm: The core of an imprecation is the speaker's intent to invoke actual harm or misfortune through words, not merely to express anger with vulgar language.
Variants and Related Words
- Imprecate (verb): To utter a curse against; to invoke evil upon.
- He imprecated his enemies.
- Imprecatory (adjective): Of the nature of, or containing, an imprecation.
- An imprecatory prayer.
Synonyms
- Curse: A solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm.
- Malediction: A formal word for a curse.
- Anathema: A formal curse by a church, or a thing or person intensely disliked.
- Denunciation: Public condemnation (shares the "vehement criticism" sense).
Antonyms
- Benediction: A blessing.
- Praise: Expression of approval or admiration.
- Compliment: A polite expression of praise or admiration.
Idioms and Phrases
- To hurl imprecations at someone: To direct a stream of curses or vehement abuse at someone.
- The defeated general hurled imprecations at his captors.
- Under/beneath an imprecation: Subject to a curse.
- The treasure was said to lie under an ancient imprecation.
Noun
-
a slanderous accusation
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the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)
-
he suffered the imprecations of the mob
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