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Imprecation: meaning, definitions and examples

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imprecation

 

[ ˌɪm.prɪˈkeɪ.ʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in a religious or solemn setting

A spoken curse or invocation of evil intended to bring harm or punishment upon someone or something.

Synonyms

curse, execration, malediction

Examples of usage

  • He muttered an imprecation under his breath as he stubbed his toe.
  • The old woman pointed a bony finger at the trespasser and uttered an imprecation.
  • The priest's imprecation seemed to linger in the air long after the ceremony had ended.
Context #2 | Noun

in a casual or informal setting

An emphatic expression of strong disapproval or anger.

Synonyms

cursing, muttering, swearing

Examples of usage

  • She let out a string of imprecations when she realized she had missed the train.
  • His imprecations against the government grew louder as he watched the news.
  • The comedian's imprecations against modern technology drew laughter from the audience.

Translations

Translations of the word "imprecation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 imprecação

🇮🇳 शाप

🇩🇪 Verwünschung

🇮🇩 kutukan

🇺🇦 прокляття

🇵🇱 przekleństwo

🇯🇵 呪い

🇫🇷 imprécation

🇪🇸 imprecación

🇹🇷 lanet

🇰🇷 저주

🇸🇦 لعنة

🇨🇿 kletba

🇸🇰 kliatba

🇨🇳 诅咒

🇸🇮 prekletstvo

🇮🇸 bölvun

🇰🇿 қарғыс

🇬🇪 წყევლა

🇦🇿 lənət

🇲🇽 imprecación

Etymology

The word 'imprecation' originated from the Latin word 'imprecatio', which means a curse or an invocation of evil. In ancient times, imprecations were often used in religious ceremonies or rituals to call upon divine forces for punishment or vengeance. Over time, the term evolved to also refer to strong expressions of disapproval or anger in everyday language. The use of imprecations has been recorded in various literary works and historical texts, highlighting the enduring power of words to invoke both blessing and curse.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,382 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.