malediction

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas
US /ˌmælɪˈdɪkʃən/ UK /ˌmælɪˈdɪkʃən/
noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a curse or the utterance of a curse

    The old woman hurled a malediction at the departing soldiers.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a curse or the utterance of... curseimprecationanathemaexecrationdamnation
Opposites
benedictionblessing
Word family
Derived forms maledictory
Related forms benedictionmalefactormalevolent

Etymology

From Latin maledictio ('a reviling, abuse'), from maledicere ('to speak ill of, curse'), from male ('badly') + dicere ('to speak, say').

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Topics

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