imprecate

/ˌɪmprəˈkeɪt/

Other forms: imprecated; imprecating; imprecates

To imprecate is to deliver a curse or verbally attack someone. You might imprecate a curse against a rival sports team, or even against a sibling.

The verb imprecate is an old-fashioned way to say "curse," meaning either to wish harm or evil on someone, or simply to swear at them. If you're mad enough to say, "Curse you!" or "May your bed be full of fleas!" when your brother annoys you, you imprecate him. The Latin root is imprecationem, "an invoking of evil," from imprecari, "invoke or call down upon."

Definitions of imprecate

1. verb

   wish harm upon; invoke evil upon
   synonyms: anathemise, anathemize, bedamn, beshrew, curse, damn, maledict

   type of:

   arouse, bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, evoke, invoke, put forward, raise, stir

   summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
2. verb

   utter obscenities or profanities
   synonyms: blaspheme, curse, cuss, swear

   blaspheme

   speak of in an irreverent or impious manner

   type of:

   express, give tongue to, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise