imprecate

American  

[im-pri-kayt] / 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

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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; see origin at im- ¹, pray, -ate ¹

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Explanation

To imprecate is to deliver a curse or verbally attack someone. You might imprecate a curse against a rival sports team, or even against a sibling. The verb imprecate is an old-fashioned way to say "curse," meaning either to wish harm or evil on someone, or simply to swear at them. If you're mad enough to say, "Curse you!" or "May your bed be full of fleas!" when your brother annoys you, you imprecate him. The Latin root is imprecationem, "an invoking of evil," from imprecari, "invoke or call down upon."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

imprecate imprecated imprecating

Daughter, to thy father go back with good cheer; nor imprecate swift death upon us, nor let choler shake thy bosom.

From The Danish History, Books I-IX by Grammaticus Saxo

He ceased to imprecate only when, by repetition, his oaths became too inexpressive to be worth while.

From The Eagle's Heart by Hamlin Garland

But now, there is scarcely a tongue in all New England that does not imprecate curses on his name.

From True Stories of History and Biography by Nathaniel Hawthorne

"I know his features," he exclaimed with indignation: "I assert his innocence; and I imprecate the same, a juster fate, against the authors of his death."

From History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 5 by Henry Hart Milman

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

From Public Speaking by Clarence Stratton

Then turning towards his younger brothers, he imprecated a curse upon them if they should follow the example of their elder brethren.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 269, August 18, 1827 by Various

I further remember that I was not the only Sixty-firster that imprecated in strong Saxon.

From Personal Recollections of the War of 1861 As Private, Sergeant and Lieutenant in the Sixty-First Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry by Charles Augustus Fuller

He imprecated bitter curses on the palace where she died, and he ordered it to be destroyed.

From Richard II Makers of History by Jacob Abbott

"Out upon a prayer who imprecated our parting!"

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 by Sir Richard Francis Burton

That it was by no means consistent that now, when it was lawful and their duty, they should not exert their power against persons, on whom they had severally imprecated the vengeance of the gods.

From The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Titus Livius

He throws effort into this record, whining, yammering, imprecating, imitating himself fabulously.

From New York Times ● Sep. 19, 2011

Thousands of pleading, imprecating letters from cloak-and-suit men the country over forced him to change his mind.

From Time Magazine Archive

As I drew nearer they seemed to forget their agonies, and joined in a glad, wild chorus of imprecating welcome to me.

From The Boy Nihilist or, Young America in Russia by Allan Arnold

And sullenly, with stealthy gestures of menace, they retreated towards the entrance; and gabbling more loudly as they approached it, seemed to be imprecating vengeance on those who cast them out.

From The Abbess Of Vlaye by Stanley J. Weyman

One solemn mode of swearing was by kissing the dirk, imprecating upon themselves death by that, or a similar weapon, if they broke their vow.

From The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott

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