anathema

American  

[uh-nath-uh-muh] / əˈnæθ ə mə /

noun

plural

anathemas

1. a person or thing detested or loathed.

   That subject is anathema to him.

2. a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction.

3. a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.

4. any imprecation of divine punishment.

5. a curse; execration.

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anathema British  

/ əˈnæθəmə /

noun

1. a detested person or thing

   he is anathema to me

2. a formal ecclesiastical curse of excommunication or a formal denunciation of a doctrine

3. the person or thing so cursed

4. a strong curse; imprecation

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Etymology

Origin of anathema

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin, from Greek: “a thing accursed, devoted to evil,” originally “devoted,” from ana(ti)thé(nai) “to set up” + -ma, noun suffix

Explanation

Something that one absolutely and positively cannot stand is anathema. Garlic is anathema to vampires (ditto for stakes and daylight). So is kryptonite to Superman or a silver bullet to a werewolf. Originally the term anathema comes from the Catholic practice of denouncing a particular individual or idea that was antithetical to the Catholic Church. If done to a person, it excommunicated them, meaning they could no longer partake in the church's sacraments (with presumably pretty poor consequences for the soul.) That's a lot worse than kryptonite.

Example Sentences

Anathema to old heads, BabyTron also casually falls off or behind the beat when delivering his stream-of-consciousness flow — not because he can’t rap in time but because he’s too cool to bother.

From Washington Post • Jan. 25, 2023

Anathema to the flower-power generation, Helvetica became a ubiquitous symbol of oppression on every sign in every public place in America.

From Forbes • Jun. 12, 2014

Anathema to an industry that thrives on the pinned-down demographic, Micachu collaborates extensively, mixing electro with grime, weird hoover samples, and even classical.

From The Guardian • Jul. 5, 2012

Anathema two years ago, Federal deposit insurance was generally accepted.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mr. Knox denounced Anathema to the giver, and Anathema to the receiver.

From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Shields, Alexander

Related Words

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