Malediction

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Malediction \Mal`e*dic"tion\, n. [L. maledictio: cf. F.
     mal['e]diction. See {Maledicent}.]
     A proclaiming of evil against some one; a cursing;
     imprecation; a curse or execration; -- opposed to
     {benediction}.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           No malediction falls from his tongue.    --Longfellow.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Cursing; curse; execration; imprecation; denunciation;
          anathema.
  
     Usage: {Malediction}, {Curse}, {Imprecation}, {Execration}.
            Malediction is the most general term, denoting bitter
            reproach, or wishes and predictions of evil. Curse
            implies the desire or threat of evil, declared upon
            oath or in the most solemn manner. Imprecation is
            literally the praying down of evil upon a person.
            Execration is literally a putting under the ban of
            excommunication, a curse which excludes from the
            kingdom of God. In ordinary usage, the last three
            words describe profane swearing, execration being the
            strongest.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  malediction
       n : the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and
           usually serves as an insult); "he suffered the
           imprecations of the mob" [syn: {imprecation}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  18 Moby Thesaurus words for "malediction":
     anathema, ban, blasphemy, commination, curse, damnation,
     denunciation, evil eye, excommunication, execration, fulmination,
     hex, imprecation, malison, malocchio, proscription, thundering,
     whammy
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  MALEDICTION, Eccl. law. A curse which was anciently annexed to donations 
  of lands made to churches and religious houses, against those who should 
  violate their rights.