anath·e·ma noun \ə-ˈna-thə-mə\
: someone or something that is very strongly disliked
Full Definition of ANATHEMA
1
a: one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority
b: someone or something intensely disliked or loathed —usually used as a predicate nominative <this notion was anathema to most of his countrymen — S. J. Gould>
2
a: a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication
b: the denunciation of something as accursed
c: a vigorous denunciation : curse
Origin of ANATHEMA
Late Latin anathemat-, anathema, from Greek, thing devoted to evil, curse, from anatithenai to set up, dedicate, from ana- + tithenai to place, set — more at do
First Known Use: 1526
Related to ANATHEMA
- Synonyms
- curse, ban, execration, imprecation, malediction, malison, winze [Scottish]
- Antonyms
- benediction, benison, blessing
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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