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anathematic

anathematic

9.9
A person, book or practice that a religious authority bans
  • adjective
  • /ˌænəˈθɛmætɪk/
  • Formal
translation icon : anatémico
  • The church considered her beliefs anathematic, leading to her excommunication.

Examples

  • The doctrine was declared anathematic by the religious council, causing a rift in the community.

  • The worship of Baal was anathematic: Israel, like Gomer, has ...

    Blog text (21)
  • Many viewed the new law as anathematic to their core values and beliefs.

Synonyms

excommunicatory
vsanathematic
  • Formal
9.9

Relating to officially stopping someone from being a member of a group like a church

is formal religious condemnation that may include exclusion
imprecatory
vsanathematic
  • Offensive
9.9

Asking for harm to come to someone, often in a prayer

is formal religious condemnation rather than a personal curse or prayer

Antonyms

blessed
  • Formal
8 4.8

Viewed as holy and worthy of worship in a religion

sanctified
  • Formal
7.4

A religious ceremony makes something holy and sets it apart for worship

Surface Forms

anathematic positive

Morphology

anathematic = anathema (transparent) = anathema + tic

Adjectival formation from 'anathema' with '-tic' directly gives the sense 'formally cursed/excommunicated'.

Etymology

Anathematic comes from the Greek word anathema, which first meant 'something set apart' and then became a word for a religious 'curse'. That's why anathematic can mean formally cursed or rejected by a religious group.