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anathema
anathema definition
anath·ema (ə nat̸h′ə mə)
noun pl. anathemas -·mas
- a thing or person accursed or damned
- a thing or person greatly detested
- 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
- 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
- greatly detested
- viewed as accursed or damned
- subjected to an ecclesiastical anathema
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