different between imprecation vs denunciation

English

Etymology

From Latin imprec?ti? (“calling down of curses”), from imprecor (“call down, invoke”), from in- (“towards”) + precor (“pray”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /??m.p???ke?.??n/, /??m.p???ke?.??n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

imprecation (countable and uncountable, plural imprecations)

1. The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone; a prayer that a curse or calamity may befall someone.
   • 1893, Stephen Crane, Maggie, Girl of the Streets, ch. 10:

     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.

2. A curse.
   • 1839, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. 3:

     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.

   • 1847, Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, chapter V:

     He drank the spirits and impatiently bade us go; terminating his command with a sequel of horrid imprecations too bad to repeat or remember.

Related terms

Translations

See also

• Article on “imprecation” on Wordmall

Anagrams

• reimpaction

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??n?nsi?e???n/, /d??n?nsi?e???n/

  Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

denunciation (countable and uncountable, plural denunciations)

1. Proclamation; announcement; a publishing.
2. The act of denouncing; an accusation made in public

   Synonym: arraignment
3. That by which anything is denounced; threat of evil; public menace or accusation; arraignment.

Related terms

• denunciative (adjective)
• denunciatory (adjective)