| 释义 |
imprecation|ɪmprɪˈkeɪʃən|
[ad. L. imprecātiōn-em, n. of action from imprecārī to imprecate: cf. F. imprécation, OF. -acion (14th c. in Littré).]
The action, or an act, of imprecating.
1. a. The action of invoking evil, calamity, or divine vengeance upon another, or upon oneself, in an oath or adjuration; cursing.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 221 By way of exclamation or crying out..imprecation or cursing, obtestation or taking God and the world to witnes. 1649Milton Eikon. xii, The bare denyall of one man, though with imprecation, cannot in any reason countervaile. 1774Pennant Tour Scotl. in 1772, 184 A cairn on your head, is a token of imprecation. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. v. xiii. (1864) III. 335 Arnulf's oath of fidelity..couched in terms of more than usual severity of imprecation.
b. (with pl.) An invocation of evil, a curse.
1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 489 When he had powred out grievous imprecations against those unthankfull Xanthiens. 1639Habington Castara ii. (Arb.) 88 Why lives the gamester, who doth blacke the night With cheats and imprecations? 1737[S. Berington] G. di Lucca's Mem. 277 He cursed himself with the most dreadful imprecations, if he were not [etc.]. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 145 He drove them from him with imprecations. 1883Froude Short Stud. IV. i. x. 114 At each fierce imprecation he quenched a light, and dashed down a candle.
†2. A prayer, invocation, petition, entreaty. Obs.
1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. ii. 115 After some imprecations made, [he] annoynted their sacrifice with oyle, milk and hony. 1631Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 374 Brute..made his imprecation to the Goddesse to this effect. |