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Imprecate - 4 dictionary results

im⋅pre⋅cate

[im-pri-keyt]

–verb (used with object), -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing.

to invoke or call down (evil or curses), as upon a person.

Origin:
1605–15; < L imprecātus ptp. of imprecārī to invoke, pray to or for, equiv. to im- im- ¹ + prec- pray + -ātus -ate ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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im·pre·cate (ĭm'prĭ-kāt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. im·pre·cat·ed, im·pre·cat·ing, im·pre·cates
To invoke evil upon; curse.

[Latin imprecāri, imprecāt- : in-, towards; see in-² + precārī, to pray, ask; see prek- in Indo-European roots.]
im'pre·ca'tor n., im'pre·ca·to'ry (-kə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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imprecate
verb
1.	wish harm upon; invoke evil upon; "The bad witch cursed the child" [syn: curse] [ant: bless]
2.	utter obscenities or profanities; "The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street" [syn: curse]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Imprecate

Im"pre*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imprecated; p. pr. & vb. n. Imprecating.] [L. imprecatus, p. p. of imprecari to imprecate; pref. im- in, on + precari to pray. See Pray.]

1. To call down by prayer, as something hurtful or calamitous.

Imprecate the vengeance of Heaven on the guilty empire. --Mickle.

2. To invoke evil upon; to curse; to swear at.

In vain we blast the ministers of Fate, And the forlorn physicians imprecate. --Rochester.

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