imprecate

C2+ Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/ UK /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like implicate /l/ vs /ɹ/

Meanings

1

verb
to invoke or call down a curse upon someone

The old woman would imprecate misfortune on anyone who crossed her.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to invoke or call down a... curse damnanathematizeexecratemaledict

Opposites

bless

Word family

Derived forms imprecationimprecatoryimprecator

Related forms deprecateprecatorypray

Etymology

From Latin imprecatus, past participle of imprecari ('to invoke, call down upon'), from in- ('on, upon') + precari ('to pray, entreat'), from prex ('prayer').

imprecari Latin precari Latin prex Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# imprecate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/

## Meanings
1. to invoke or call down a curse upon someone

## Examples
- The old woman would imprecate misfortune on anyone who crossed her.

## Synonyms
- curse
- damn
- anathematize
- execrate
- maledict

## Antonyms
- bless

## Derived Forms
- imprecation
- imprecatory
- imprecator

## Related Forms
- deprecate
- precatory
- pray

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: imprecari
- Root: precari
- Root: prex

## Etymology
From Latin imprecatus, past participle of imprecari ('to invoke, call down upon'), from in- ('on, upon') + precari ('to pray, entreat'), from prex ('prayer').

## AI Etymology
Imprecate comes from Latin imprecatus, past participle of imprecari ('to invoke, call down upon'), from in- ('on, upon') + precari ('to pray, entreat'), from prex ('prayer'). The prefix supplies the first semantic turn, while the base carries the lexical core of the word. As a verb, it means "to invoke or call down a curse upon someone", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Latin imprecari, Latin precari, and Latin prex. Derivative forms include imprecation, imprecatory, imprecator; related words include deprecate, precatory, pray.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown