different between imprecation vs deprecation

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

Etymology

From Middle French deprecation (French: déprécation), from Latin d?prec?ti?nem, from d?prec?ti? (“deprecation, invocation”), from d?precor (“I avert, I warn off; I deprecate”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?p???ke???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

deprecation (countable and uncountable, plural deprecations)

1. (uncountable) The act of deprecating.
2. (countable) A praying against evil; prayer that an evil may be removed or prevented; strong expression of disapprobation.
3. Entreaty for pardon; petitioning.
4. (countable) An imprecation or curse.

Related terms

• imprecation
• precation

Translations

Anagrams

• recaptioned