imprecation

WOTD – 3 February 2010    

English

Etymology

From Latin imprecātio (“calling down of curses”), from imprecor (“call down, invoke”), from in- (“towards”) + precor (“pray”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, /ˌɪm.pɹəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

imprecation (plural imprecations)

1. The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone; a prayer that a curse or calamity may befall someone.
   • 1893, Stephen Crane, Maggie, Girl of the Streets, ch. 10:

     Her son turned to look at her as she reeled and swayed in the middle of the room, her fierce face convulsed with passion, her blotched arms raised high in imprecation. "May Gawd curse her forever," she shrieked.

2. A curse.
   • 1839, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. 3:

     Mr. Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey generally, but more particularly on his eyes; and, running after him, bestowed a blow on his head.

Related terms

• deprecation
• imprecate
• precation

Translations

act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone

• Finnish: kirous (fi)
• French: exécrer (fr), maudire (fr), lancer des imprécations contre (fr)
• German: Verwünschung (de) f

• Italian: imprecazione (it) f
• Russian: проклятие (ru) (prokljátije) n 
• Swedish: förbannelse (sv) c

a curse

• Armenian: անեծք (hy) (aneçk’) 
• Finnish: kirous (fi)
• French: imprécation (fr), malédiction (fr), exécration (fr)
• German: Fluch (de) m

• Italian: imprecazione (it)
• Russian: проклятие (ru) (prokljátije) n 
• Swedish: förbannelse (sv) c

See also

• Article on “imprecation” on Wordmall