anathema

anathema Definition

anath·ema (ə nat̸h′ə mə)

noun pl. -·mas

a thing or person accursed or damned
a thing or person greatly detested
1. a solemn ecclesiastical condemnation of a teaching judged to be gravely opposed to accepted church doctrine, or of the originators or supporters of such a teaching
2. the excommunication often accompanying or following this condemnation

Etymology: LL(Ec) < Gr, thing devoted to evil; previously, anything devoted < anatithenai, to dedicate < ana-, up + tithenai, to place: see do

adjective

anathema Usage Examples

Converse of object

seem: The amount of money spent at general elections seems a complete anathema to most people.
become: Repeat offenders will be designated as ' French ' and shall thus become anathema.
hurl: There were typesetters there who could hurl anathemas at bad copy which would have frightened a Bengal tiger.
remain: This remains anathema to Western governments - which spent most of the 1980s demolishing commodity agreements - and to politically powerful transnational companies.
find: NC: A lot of people will find this anathema.

Adjective modifier

complete: The idea of copying anything is a complete anathema to him.
total: Should those for whom observation is total anathema have the ultimate choice to opt out of being observed?

Noun used with modifier

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