the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)
communication noun (communicative processes and contents)
maledictions
Old French maledicion, from Latin maledictionem (nominative maledictio) "the...
(Source: Online Etymology) [more]
the utterance of a curse against someone or something | slanderous accusation or comment (13 of 305 words, 2 definitions, 4 usage examples, pronunciation)
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/malediction
any expressed wish that some form of adversity or unhappiness will befall another person or persons, a magical phrase or word ... | Malediction (shortened to MaL), a weapon in the MMORPG Neocron (32 of 104 words, 2 definitions)
"curse", "execration" (2 of 100 words, 1 usage example, pronunciations)
a magical word or phrase uttered with the intention of bringing about evil; a curse (15 of 59 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
a calling down of evil on someone; curse | evil talk about someone; slander (13 of 35 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
a curse; imprecation. | the utterance of a curse. | slander (9 of 17 words, 3 definitions, pronunciation)
The calling down of a curse. | A curse. | Slander. (9 of 15 words, 3 definitions, pronunciations)
A curse | Evil speech (4 of 5 words, 2 definitions)
an offensive word that you say when you are angry | a curse (12 of 38 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/imprecation
a swear word (3 of 17 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/imprecation
power of government to take private property for public use without the owner's consent. Constitutional provisions in most countries require the ... (21 of 470 words)
www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/185870/eminent-domain
a curse | slander or evil talk about somebody (8 of 36 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861627998/definition.html [offline]
First use: mid-15th century
Origin: Old French maledicion, from Latin maledictionem (nominative maledictio) "the action of speaking evil of, slander", in Late Latin ... (20 of 41 etymology words)
First use: 14th century
Origin: Middle English malediccioun, from Late Latin malediction-, maledictio, from maledicere to curse, from Latin, to speak evil ... (19 of 28 etymology words)
Origin: Latin maledictio ("curse") from malus ("evil") + dictio ("speech") noun of action from perfect passive participle dictus ("spoken"), from verb dico ("speak").
Origin: Middle English malediccioun from Old French malediction from ecclesiastical Late Latin maledictio from Latin, abuse, reviling: ... (16 of 20 etymology words)
First use: 15th century
Origin: from Latin maledictiō a reviling, from male ill + dīcere to speak
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/malediction
Origin: late Middle English: from Latin maledictio(n-), from maledicere "speak evil of"
First use: 14th century
Origin: Latin malediction- from maledicere "speak ill of" from dicere "speak"
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861627998/definition.html [offline]
Audio: British English pronunciation of "malediction"
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/malediction
Audio: North American pronunciation of "malediction"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/malediction
Audio: North American pronunciation of "malediction"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=maledi02 word=malediction
Page last updated: 2013-06-26