imprecate

[ im-pri-keyt ]
/ ˈɪm prɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object), im·pre·cat·ed, im·pre·cat·ing.

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

Origin of imprecate

1605–15; < Latin imprecātus past participle of imprecārī to invoke, pray to or for, equivalent to im- im-1 + prec- pray + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM imprecate

im·pre·ca·tor, noun im·pre·ca·to·ry, adjective un·im·pre·cat·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for imprecate

British Dictionary definitions for imprecate

imprecate
/ (ˈɪmprɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

(intr) to swear, curse, or blaspheme
(tr) to invoke or bring down (evil, a curse, etc) to imprecate disaster on the ship
(tr) to put a curse on

Derived forms of imprecate

imprecatory, adjective

Word Origin for imprecate

C17: from Latin imprecārī to invoke, from im- in- ² + precārī to pray