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malediction

[ mal-i-dik-shuhn ]
/ ˌmæl ɪˈdɪk ʃən /
||
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noun

a curse; imprecation.
the utterance of a curse.
slander.

RELATED WORDS

cuss, execration, commination, expletive, imprecation, anathema, whammy, denunciation, damn, damnation, oath, jinx, darn, damning, no-no

Nearby words

  1. malebo pool,
  2. malebranche,
  3. malebranche, nicolas,
  4. malecite,
  5. maledict,
  6. maledictory,
  7. maleducation,
  8. malefaction,
  9. malefactor,
  10. malefactress

Origin of malediction

1400–50; late Middle English malediccion < Latin maledictiōn- (stem of maledictiō) slander (Late Latin: curse). See male-, diction
ANTONYMS FOR malediction
1. benediction.
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Related formsmal·e·dic·tive, mal·e·dic·to·ry [mal-i-dik-tuh-ree] /ˌmæl ɪˈdɪk tə ri/, adjectiveun·mal·e·dic·tive, adjectiveun·mal·e·dic·to·ry, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for malediction

British Dictionary definitions for malediction

malediction

/ (ˌmælɪˈdɪkʃən) /

noun

the utterance of a curse against someone or something
slanderous accusation or comment
Derived Formsmaledictive or maledictory, adjective

Word Origin for malediction

C15: from Latin maledictiō a reviling, from male ill + dīcere to speak
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
Word Origin and History for malediction

malediction

n.

mid-15c., from Old French maledicion "a curse" (15c.), from Latin maledictionem (nominative maledictio) "the action of speaking evil of, slander," in Late Latin "a curse," noun of action from past participle stem of maledicere "to speak badly or evil of, slander," from male "badly" (see mal-) + dicere "to say" (see diction).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper