imprecate

American  

[im-pri-keyt] / ˈɪm prɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

imprecated, imprecating

1. to invoke or call down (evil or curses), as upon a person.

   Synonyms:

   anathematize, execrate, curse, denunciate

   Antonyms:

   bless

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imprecate British  

/ ˈɪmprɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to swear, curse, or blaspheme

2. (tr) to invoke or bring down (evil, a curse, etc)

   to imprecate disaster on the ship

3. (tr) to put a curse on

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Other Word Forms

• imprecator noun
• imprecatory adjective
• unimprecated adjective

Etymology

Origin of imprecate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin imprecātus, past participle of imprecārī “to invoke, pray to or for,” equivalent to im- “in” + prec- “pray” + -ātus past participle suffix; im- ¹, pray, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

O Man: Pass not all heedless by, nor imprecate This aged relic of the past because It lies across thy path!

From The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 6 by Various

Did not my father imprecate the wrath of Heaven upon me, if I held communion with her or hers?

From Trevethlan: (Vol 2 of 3) A Cornish Story. by Watson, William Davy

V. To curse, accurse, imprecate, scold, rail, execrate.

From Public Speaking by Stratton, Clarence

"Swear!" he said: "imprecate a curse upon thyself if thou hast said anything untrue to save thy master."

From The Childhood of King Erik Menved An Historical Romance by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin

How often did I imprecate curses on the cause of my being!

From Frankenstein by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft