Imprecation
/ˌɪmprɪˈkeɪʃən/
nounC2
Definition
An imprecation is when someone says words to call bad luck, harm, or a curse on another person or thing. It is usually a strong, angry, or serious kind of wish for something bad to happen. People use it as a way to show strong dislike or anger through words.
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See It in Action
A spoken curse or wish for harm or bad luck
- •The old man muttered an imprecation against the thieves.
- •In the play, the villain’s imprecation brought fear to the town.
- •She felt the weight of the imprecation after the argument.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "imprecation" like "curse" (a word you may know), but it is a formal or old-fashioned way to say it, often found in books or serious speech.
- ✓Picture someone loudly shouting bad words or wishing trouble on a bad character in a story or movie.
- ✓It feels like the angry moment when someone is very upset and wants to express strong feelings with words that wish harm.
- ✓Sounds like "im-pre-KAY-shun" → imagine someone saying "I'm praying bad things" in a strong way.
- ✓In stories or fairy tales, witches or angry characters often say imprecations to cause trouble for heroes.
- ✓NOT like "complaint" (which is just saying something is wrong), imprecation is actively wishing bad things.
- ✓NOT like "insult" (which is just rude words), imprecation is a wish or prayer for harm.
Try Other Words
- •Curse: a wish for harm or bad luck (Use in everyday conversation)
- •Hex: a magical spell to cause bad luck (Use when talking about magic or witchcraft)
- •Malediction: formal word for a curse (Use in very formal or literary contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "im-" (towards or intensifying) + "precation" (from Latin "precari" meaning to pray or ask)
- •Etymology: From Latin "imprecari," meaning to pray for harm or curse
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to mean a spoken curse or bad wish
- •Modern usage: Mostly found in literature, formal writing, or religious contexts describing curses or strong bad wishes
Reflect & Connect
•How do people use imprecations differently in stories compared to real life?
•Can words like imprecations really affect people’s feelings or actions? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.After being wronged, he shouted an imprecation ___ the person who hurt him, hoping for ___.
2.The character’s imprecation in the story created a ___ atmosphere of fear and danger.
3.Unlike a simple complaint, an imprecation is a ___ wish for harm or bad luck.
4.In old tales, witches often use imprecations to ___ bad magic on others.
5.People rarely use the word imprecation in daily talk because it sounds ___ and serious.
6.An imprecation usually comes from strong feelings like anger or ___.
7.When someone says an imprecation, they are actively ___ harm, not just expressing frustration.