mal·e·dic·tion

[mal-i-dik-shuhn]
noun
1.
a curse; imprecation.
2.
the utterance of a curse.
3.
slander.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English malediccion < Latin maledictiōn- (stem of maledictiō) slander (Late Latin: curse). See male-, diction

Related forms
mal·e·dic·tive, mal·e·dic·to·ry [mal-i-dik-tuh-ree] , adjective
un·mal·e·dic·tive, adjective
un·mal·e·dic·to·ry, adjective

Synonyms
1. damning, execration.

Antonyms
1. benediction.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
malediction (ˌmælɪˈdɪkʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  the utterance of a curse against someone or something
2.  slanderous accusation or comment
 
[C15: from Latin maledictiō a reviling, from male ill + dīcere to speak]
 
male'dictive
 
—adj
 
male'dictory
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

malediction
1447, from O.Fr. maledicion, from L. maledictionem (nom. maledictio) "the action of speaking evil of, slander," in L.L. "a curse," from maledictus, pp. of maledicere "to speak badly or evil of, slander," from male "badly" (see mal-) + dicere "to say" (see diction).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Patrick cleared the island of all “varmint” by his malediction.
But like the movie mummies who invoke the malediction, the legend of the
  mummy's curse seems destined never to die.
It's not even a malediction to say so.
They are defeated from the start by some nameless malediction.
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