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   anathema

   /əˈnaθɪmə/

   noun

   • 1. something or someone that one vehemently dislikes: "racial hatred was anathema to her" Similar abhorrenthatefulodiousrepugnantrepellentoffensiveabominationabhorrenceaversionmonstrosityoutrageevildisgracebanebugbearbête noirepariah
   • 2. a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine: "the Pope laid special emphasis on the second of these anathemas" Similar cursebanexcommunicationdamnationproscriptiondebarmentdenunciationmaledictionexecrationimprecation
   • ▪ a strong curse: literary "the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas"

   Word Origin early 16th century: from ecclesiastical Latin, ‘excommunicated person, excommunication’, from Greek anathema ‘thing dedicated’, (later) ‘thing devoted to evil, accursed thing’, from anatithenai ‘to set up’.

   Scrabble Points: 13

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