Word of the Day

: January 10, 2008

anathematize

verb uh-NATH-uh-muh-tyze

What It Means

: curse, denounce

anathematize in Context

The biography presents a balanced account of the life of a writer whose work was beloved by the masses and anathematized by critics.

Did You Know?

When 16th-century English speakers needed a verb meaning "to condemn by anathema" (that is, by an official curse from church authority), "anathematize" proved to be just the right word. But "anathematize" didn't originate in English as a combination of the noun "anathema" and the suffix "-ize." Rather, our verb is based on forebears in Late Latin ("anathematizare") and Greek ("anathematizein"). "Anathematize" can still indicate solemn, formal condemnation, but today it can also have milder applications. The same is true of "anathema," which now often means simply "a vigorous denunciation."