anathema

noun

anath·e·ma | \ ə-ˈna-thə-mə

Definition of anathema

1a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority

b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed —usually used as a predicate nominative … this notion was anathema to most of his countrymen.— Stephen Jay Gould

2a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication

b : the denunciation of something as accursed

c : a vigorous denunciation : curse

Synonyms & Antonyms Word History of Anathema The History of Anathema Is Contradictory Example Sentences Learn More about anathema

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Word History of Anathema

The Greek root of anathema originally meant simply “a thing devoted” or “an offering,” and in the Old Testament it could refer to either revered objects or objects representing destruction brought about in the name of the Lord, such as the weapons of an enemy. Since the enemy’s objects therefore became symbols of what was reviled or unholy, the neutral meaning of “a thing devoted” became “a thing devoted to evil” or “curse.”

In Latin, it could refer to both an excommunication and the person who has been excommunicated.

In the early Church, anathema was used interchangeably with excommunication and to refer to unrepentant heretics. It then came to mean the severest form of excommunication in official church writings. When the authority of Rome was split in the Great Schism between Eastern and Western churches in 1054, an anathema was issued by Rome against the Eastern Patriarch who then issued another one against the cardinal who delivered it.

The History of Anathema Is Contradictory

Historically, anathema can be considered a one-word oxymoron. When it first appeared in English in 1526, it was used to refer to something accursed. Shortly thereafter, however, people also began to use it to refer to something consecrated to divine use—generally a good thing. Why the contradiction? Anathema comes from Greek, where it initially meant "anything devoted" and later "anything devoted to evil." The "consecrated to divine use" sense of anathema comes from that earlier Greek use but is not widely used today.

Examples of anathema in a Sentence

Maugham was not only prolific but also a best-seller, though snobs dismissed his work as middlebrow (a category that few people worry about in our day but that once was anathema). — Edmund White, New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009 While everything pointed to an immense flood, Bretz knew such a notion would be anathema to his fellow geologists. In part that was because the quantity of water needed for such a flood would exceed the flow of all the world's modern rivers combined. — Richard Lovett, New Scientist, 21-27 Apr. 2007 Big Jeff was devoted to Purcell. He haunted his room and patiently endured his abuse just to sit in the corner and watch him shave or do push-ups or dress for dinner, and listen to him pronounce his opinions and anathemas. — Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003 For all the artistic wonders it has preserved, the Holy Mountain is not a museum, and the idea of playing host to sightseers is anathema to the monks. Male visitors of all faiths are welcome, but they come as pilgrims, not tourists, and only 110 "residence permits" are issued each day by patristic officials in Ouranoupolis. — Nicholas Basbanes, Smithsonian, August 1999 a politician who is anathema to conservatives ideas that are an anathema to me

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, Trump’s hints at sanctions relief, and suggestions that an interim, incomplete deal could be struck, are anathema to Bolton. — Noah Bierman, latimes.com, "Trump’s impromptu approach to North Korea divides his administration," 1 July 2019 Producing work for a corporate client might seem anathema to the hip-hop generation of yore. — Daisy Alioto, The New Republic, "How Graffiti Became Gentrified," 19 June 2019 This may be anathema to many, but there is good news, and plenty of hope for a brighter future. — Paul Roehrig, Quartz, "The internet is broken. But we can’t just repair it—we need to rebuild it," 3 June 2019 Those amendments are anathema to the the bills backers and broad coalition of environmental groups who are supporting it. — oregonlive.com, "Oregon’s massive cap-and-trade bill inches forward," 6 June 2019 French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposals include more risk-sharing and substantial common investment, anathema in Berlin due to long-standing fears that the country would end up footing the bill for less fiscally solid members. — William Horobin, WSJ, "Trump Tariff Plans Drive Wedge Between France and Germany," 3 May 2018 Open source was once anathema to Microsoft when its main economic interest was rooted in keeping customers tied to its own proprietary Windows software. — Dan Gallagher, WSJ, "Microsoft’s GitHub Deal Is a Clean Break From Its Past," 4 June 2018 Now in its 61st year, the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup has thrived while others have faded, despite being anathema to biologists and animal rights advocates. — John Maccormack, San Antonio Express-News, "As other rattlesnake roundups fade, Sweetwater is going strong," 10 Mar. 2018 That is anathema to the environmentalist M5S, one of whose negotiators cut her teeth in a campaign to stop a high-speed rail link to France. — The Economist, "An Italian populist government looks likely, and risky," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anathema.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for anathema

anathema

noun

English Language Learners Definition of anathema

formal : someone or something that is very strongly disliked

See the full definition for anathema in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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anathema

Definition of anathema

Synonyms & Antonyms for anathema

Word History of Anathema

The History of Anathema Is Contradictory

Examples of anathema in a Sentence

First Known Use of anathema

History and Etymology for anathema

English Language Learners Definition of anathema

anathema

Definition of anathema

Synonyms & Antonyms for anathema

Word History of Anathema

The History of Anathema Is Contradictory

Examples of anathema in a Sentence

First Known Use of anathema

History and Etymology for anathema

English Language Learners Definition of anathema

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