imprecate

[ im-pri-keyt ]

See synonyms for imprecate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),im·pre·cat·ed, im·pre·cat·ing.

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

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, -ate¹

Other words for imprecate

curse, execrate, anathematize, accurse, denunciate

See synonyms for imprecate on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for imprecate

bless

See antonyms for imprecate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from imprecate

im·pre·ca·tor, noun
im·pre·ca·to·ry, adjective
un·im·pre·cat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imprecate in a sentence

He has previously repeatedly called for the death of President Obama via imprecatory prayer.
Health-Care Fatwa | John Avlon | March 22, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Glazier responded by branding the woman a witch and began to utter imprecatory prayers.
Inside Sarah's Church | Max Blumenthal | September 5, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
According to the film, Muthee organized several weeks of imprecatory prayer against Mama Jane.
Inside Sarah's Church | Max Blumenthal | September 5, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
He has been offering “imprecatory prayers” against “the usurper that is in the White House…B. Hussein Obama.”
The Obama Haters' Next Move | John Avlon | July 20, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Caleb read on; he was reading now one of the imprecatory psalms.
Pembroke | Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

The one redeeming feature in these imprecatory petitions is that they have always served the Oriental as a safety-valve.
The Syrian Christ | Abraham Mitrie Rihbany
The style of the imprecatory psalms and the denunciating prophets is out of date.
The American Mind | Bliss Perry
Desvœux put on Blunt's square awkward manner and coughed an imprecatory cough.
Chronicles of Dustypore | Henry Stewart Cunningham
This is the last and the most terrible of the imprecatory psalms.
The Expositor's Bible: The Psalms, Volume III | Alexander Maclaren

British Dictionary definitions for imprecate

imprecate

/ (ˈɪmprɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

(intr) to swear, curse, or blaspheme
(tr) to invoke or bring down (evil, a curse, etc): to imprecate disaster on the ship

(tr) to put a curse on

Origin of imprecate

C17: from Latin imprecārī to invoke, from im- in- ² + precārī to pray

Derived forms of imprecate

imprecatory, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse