ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anathema

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //əˈnæθəmə// UK //ɐnˈæθəmɐ// anath·e·ma Archaic Literary

n. something that people find very unpleasant or offensive. It is a word for something that makes people feel strong dislike or disgust.

n. something that is intensely disliked, offensive, or repugnant. Often used in the phrase 'to be anathema to' to describe a strong aversion to a specific idea or practice.


SIMPLE

The loud music was an anathema to the quiet neighbors.

CONTEXTUAL

To the local community, the proposed highway was an anathema because it would destroy the historic park.

COMPLEX

While the new policy was intended to streamline operations, it became an anathema to the staff who felt their autonomy was being systematically stripped away.

Origin

Borrowed from Late Latin anathema (“curse, person cursed, offering”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀνάθεμα (anáthema, “something dedicated, especially dedicated to eternal damnation”), from ἀνατίθημι (anatíthēmi, “I set upon, offer as a votive gift”), from ἀνά (aná, “upon”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “I put, place”). The Ancient Greek term was influenced by Hebrew חרם (herem), leading to the sense of "accursed," especially in Ecclesiastical writers.

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