I. an·a·the·ma ˌanəˈthēmə, əˈnathəmə noun
( plural anathemas -məz ; or anathem·a·ta ˌanəˈtheməd.ə, -ēm-)
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek anathēma, literally, anything set up, from anatithenai
: a thing consecrated to divine use : a votive offering
II. anath·e·ma əˈnathəmə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek, anything devoted, anything devoted to evil, curse, from anatithenai to set up, dedicate, from ana- + tithenai to place, set — more at do
1.
a. : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication
the third letter to Nestorius … contained the anathemas — R.M.French
b. : the denunciation of anything as accursed
continued openly … to flaunt their beauties in spite of the anathemas from the pulpits — P.I.Wellman
c. : a vigorous denunciation : imprecation , curse
the direst critical anathemas — James Hinton
2.
a. : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority
the encyclical … declared the society anathema — C.W.Ferguson
b. : one that is intensely disliked or loathed
he was anathema to the moderates — S.H.Adams
changing a law is anathema to many people — S.L.Payne