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imprecate

[ im-pri-keyt ]
/ ˈɪm prɪˌkeɪt /
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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.
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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 FROM imprecate

im·pre·ca·tor, nounim·pre·ca·to·ry, adjectiveun·im·pre·cat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to imprecate

anathematize, blaspheme, cuss, damn, execrate, flame, talk dirty

How to use imprecate in a sentence

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

Derived forms of imprecate

imprecatory, adjective

Word Origin for imprecate

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