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Glite Dictionary
🧙 Cursed 🧙 To curse
to maledict

to maledict

9.9
To wish harm or bad luck on someone
  • verb
  • /ˈmælɪˌdɪkt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : maldicir
  • The malicious sorcerer maledicted his enemies before vanishing into the night.

Examples

  • The witch maledicted the village for their betrayal.

  • He warned not to maledict the innocent, for such wishes might rebound upon the speaker.

  • In the tale, villagers believed that the old woman could maledict anyone who crossed her.

  • He maledicted his enemies during the storm.

  • The witch maledicted anyone who dared to enter her woods.

  • She was warned not to maledict those who wronged her, as it could bring misfortune on herself.

  • In ancient times, people believed that the priest could maledict their enemies with just a few words.

Synonyms

to curse
vsto maledict
244 4.8

To wish harm on someone using magic

also covers non supernatural or ordinary ways of wishing harm
to damn
vsto maledict
  • Offensive
207 7.6

To wish bad things to happen to someone by calling on a magic power

is the plain act of wishing harm without specifically invoking powers
to beshrew
vsto maledict
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To wish bad things to happen to someone

is the modern neutral term rather than an archaic form
to imprecate
vsto maledict
  • Offensive
9.9

To wish bad things to happen to someone, often by saying a curse

is broader wishing harm not limited to spoken words
to bedamn
vsto maledict
  • Offensive
9.9

To wish harm or a curse on someone

is the general act of wishing harm without special force
to anathemize
vsto maledict
  • Formal
9.9

To say in public that someone or something is evil and should be avoided

is a general wishing of harm rather than formal legal condemnation

Antonyms

to bless
453 1.8

To give someone good luck and happiness

How Harsh

to anathematize
  • Formal
1 9.9
to execrate
  • Formal
1 9.9
to maledict
  • Archaic
9.9
curse
  • Offensive
49 3.9

Surface Forms

maledict infinitive
maledicted past
maledicted past participle
maledicting present participle
maledicts third person singular

Morphology

maledict = male + dict

Although etymologically 'male-' + 'dict-' underlies the verb 'to curse', these combining forms are not transparent to average learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Maledict breaks down into mal- 'bad' and -dict 'to say', like in dictate or dictionary. So to maledict someone is to 'say bad things' or call a curse on them, which is why the verb means 'to curse'.