Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

imprecation

/ˌɪm.pɹɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.35 in modern English

Syllables: im-pre-ca-tion
IPA: /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

17

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone; a prayer that a curse or calamity may befall someone.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Hear then this dreadful imprecation; hear it: / 'Tis lay'd on all; not any one exempt: […]"
"Her son turned to look at her as she reeled and swayed in the middle of the room, her fierce face convulsed with passion, her blotched arms raised high in imprecation. "May Gawd curse her forever," she shrieked."
"Mr. Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey generally, but more particularly on his eyes; and, running after him, bestowed a blow on his head."
"He drank the spirits and impatiently bade us go; terminating his command with a sequel of horrid imprecations too bad to repeat or remember."
"All life had turned to rottenness and stench in them--love was a beastliness, joy was a snare, and God was an imprecation."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin imprecātiō (“calling down of curses”), from imprecor (“call down, invoke”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *preḱ-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
British English: /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

imprecations (plural)

Derived Forms

imprecational

Frequently Paired Words

deprecation imprecate imprecatory precation

Synonyms

malediction

Rhymes With

information education situation population station association administration operation organization head station nation location

Questions

How do you pronounce imprecation?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɪm.pɹɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
What does imprecation mean?: The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone; a prayer that a curse or calamity may befall someone.
Where does imprecation come from?: Learned borrowing from Latin imprecātiō (“calling down of curses”), from imprecor (“call down, invoke”).

How to pronounce imprecation

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