noun pl. anathemas -·mas

1. a thing or person accursed or damned
2. a thing or person greatly detested
3. 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

1. greatly detested
2. viewed as accursed or damned
3. subjected to an ecclesiastical anathema