definitions

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

maleberry, malebo pool, malebranche, malecite, maledict, malediction, malefaction, malefactor, malefactress, malefic, maleficence

Origin of malediction

1400–50; late Middle English malediccion < Latin maledictiōn- (stem of maledictiō) slander (Late Latin: curse). See male-, diction

Related forms

mal·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 Forms

maledictive 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