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Tuesday July 28, 2009

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malediction [mal-uh-DIK-shun]

noun

1. A proclaiming of evil against someone; a curse or execration.

• They hurled maledictions against the dying men. They clawed at their dangling bodies like avenging furies. The scene was like the hell of Dante.
  Johnny Miller, "Mob lynches kidnapper-killers", San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 23, 2008
• The chronicler of the gulag was capable of subtleties but had little time for them. In the presence of villainy, he uttered maledictions.
  George Jonas, "Russia's Literary Patriot", National Post, Aug 5, 2008
• Therefore, even in the hour of my deepest, pas- sionate malediction I try to remember it is also well between us. That you are with me in the end. That you never look quite back; nine-tenths, ah, more You look round over your shoulder; But never quite back.
  D. H. Lawrence (1885 - 1930) An English author, poet, playwright, essayist and literary critic. Look! We Have Come Through! (1917)

Origin of the Word

Malediction, approximately 1447, derives from Old French maledicion, from Latin maledictionem (nom. maledictio) "the action of speaking evil of, slander," in Late Latin "a curse," from maledicere "to speak badly or evil of, slander," from male "badly" (see mal-) + dicere "to say".