malediction

/,mæli'dikʃn/
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malediction

A witch utters a malediction against her enemies.

Definition

Noun: 1. A curse; the utterance of a wish that evil or harm befall someone: A formal or solemn invocation of supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment upon a person or thing. 2. The act of speaking a curse: The action of pronouncing words intended to invoke evil, often as an insult or expression of intense ill-will.

Usage
  • "Malediction" is a formal, literary word for a curse. It often implies a spoken, deliberate, and serious invocation of evil, distinct from casual swearing.
  • It is typically used in contexts involving formal denunciation, ancient rituals, witchcraft, or profound hatred.
  • It can function as a countable noun (a malediction, several maledictions) or as an uncountable noun referring to the general concept.
Examples
  • The witch pronounced a terrible malediction upon the village.
  • In the story, the prince was under a malediction that turned him into a beast.
  • He hurled maledictions at his enemies as they carried him away.
  • The old tomb was said to be protected by ancient maledictions.
Advanced Usage
  • "To lay/pronounce/utter a malediction upon (someone/something)": This is a common collocation describing the act of cursing.
    • The priestess pronounced a malediction upon the invaders.
  • "To be under a malediction": To be suffering the effects of a curse.
    • The family believed they were under a malediction for generations.
Variants and Related Words
  • Maledictory (adjective): Having the nature of or expressing a curse.
    • He spoke in a maledictory tone.
  • Benediction (noun): The antonym; a blessing, the utterance of a wish for happiness or good fortune.
Synonyms
  • Curse: The most common synonym.
  • Imprecation: A formal word for a spoken curse.
  • Execration: A curse expressing intense loathing.
  • Anathema: A formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication; something or someone intensely disliked.
Idioms and Phrases
  • "A fate worse than malediction": An extremely undesirable outcome, even worse than being cursed. (A literary construction).
    • To him, obscurity was a fate worse than malediction.
malediction

A witch utters a malediction against her enemies.

Noun
  1. 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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