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anathema

/əˈnæθəmə/
Meanings
  • noun

    A thing or person cursed or excommunicated by an authority or by religious rite.

  • noun

    A person or thing detested or loathed.

Pronunciation
  1. /əˈnæθəmə/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1168245"
Synonyms

ban , curse , bête noire
Rhymes
Words rhyming with anathema
anemone , apothecary , atone , benediction , benison , chalice , condemnation , consecrate , consignment , consignment , contemplation , convention , devotion , devotee , denunciation , encomium , invocation , libation , mansion , meditation , oblation , ordination , proclamation , sanction , supplication , tenement , testament , vocation
Variants
List of all variants of anathema that leads to same result
anathema , anathemas , anathemata
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Greek anathema, anathematize, anathema, a thing dedicated, a vow, a curse, from anatithenai, to set before, offer, dedicate, from ana- ana- + tithenai to place, set, offer.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. Anathema is also the name of a British progressive rock band.

  2. The word 'anathema' is derived from the Greek word 'anathema', which means 'a thing dedicated' or 'a vow'.

  3. In Christianity, an anathema is a curse pronounced by the Church against those who reject its teachings.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. Excommunication: The act of expelling someone from a religious or social group.

  2. Curse: A pronouncement of harm or misfortune upon someone or something.

  3. Ban: A prohibition or restriction on something or someone.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. Maugham was not only prolific but also a best-seller, though snobs dismissed his work as middlebrow (a category that few people worry about in our day but that once was "anathema").

    - Edmund White,{it}New York Review of Books{/it},12 Feb. 2009

  2. While everything pointed to an immense flood, Bretz knew such a notion would be "anathema" to his fellow geologists. In part that was because the quantity of water needed for such a flood would exceed the flow of all the world's modern rivers combined.

    - Richard Lovett,{it}New Scientist{/it},21-27 Apr. 2007

  3. For all the artistic wonders it has preserved, the Holy Mountain is not a museum, and the idea of playing host to sightseers is "anathema" to the monks. Male visitors of all faiths are welcome, but they come as pilgrims, not tourists, and only 110 "residence permits" are issued each day by patristic officials in Ouranoupolis.

    - Nicholas Basbanes,{it}Smithsonian{/it},August 1999

  4. Big Jeff was devoted to Purcell. He haunted his room and patiently endured his abuse just to sit in the corner and watch him shave or do push-ups or dress for dinner, and listen to him pronounce his opinions and "anathemas".

    - Tobias Wolff,{it}Old School{/it},2003
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Anathema is a term that has been used throughout history to refer to a person or thing that is cursed or excommunicated. It has been used in religious contexts to refer to a person or thing that has been banned or forbidden. Anathema has also been used in literature and art to represent something that is detested or loathed. In Christianity, an anathema is a curse pronounced by the Church against those who reject its teachings.

How to Memorize "anathema"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize a person or thing being cursed or excommunicated. Imagine a religious ceremony where a person is being banished from the community.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'anathema' with the idea of something being cursed or forbidden.

  3. mnemonics

    - Use the mnemonic 'An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away' to remember the definition of anathema. Replace 'Apple' with 'Anathema' and 'Doctor' with 'Detested'.

🧠 Bonus Tips

To help you remember the word 'anathema', follow these practical tricks with steps:

1. Break it down: First, break down the word 'anathema' into smaller parts, 'an' and 'thema'. 'An' is a common English prefix meaning 'not' or 'without', while 'thema' is a Greek word meaning 'a proposition to be discussed'.

2. Associate it with a word: Next, associate the word 'anathema' with a word that you already know. For example, you can associate 'anathema' with 'anatomy', since both words have the same first part 'an'. Anathema can then be thought of as something that is 'not anatomy', or not related to the study of body structures.

3. Create a memorable phrase: To further reinforce your memory, create a memorable phrase using the word 'anathema'. For example, you can use the phrase 'Anathema to anatomists, body parts are a mystery'.

4. Practice using it: Finally, practice using the word 'anathema' in sentences to help solidify its meaning and spelling in your memory.

Memorize "anathema" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize anathema is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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