Imprecate

[Dr. Goodword]

• imprecate •

Pronunciation: im-pri-kayt • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: 1. To beseech, invoke, entreat, plead to the powers that be. 2. To cast a curse (on someone), to invoke evil (on someone).

Notes: This word originally meant simply "ask, request", even "pray", but it was used so often when asking for curses to be cast on others on others that "curse" was simply absorbed by this verb. Someone who imprecates a lot is an imprecator whose actions are imprecations. The adjective is imprecatory.

In Play: This word usually implies casting a curse on someone: "Milka set about learning some spells, so she could imprecate vengeance on the heads of all who offend her—just for her own peace of mind." We may still use this word simply to mean "cast, beseech" but, still, associated with curses: "Sheila imprecated several curses on the interviewer who had the temerity to ask her age."

Word History: Today's Good Word is based on the past participle, imprecatus, of the Latin verb of imprecari "to invoke, ask, pray". The Latin verb contains an assimilated form of in- "in(to)" + precari "to pray, ask, request", inherited from the PIE word prek-/prok- "to ask, entreat". In the Germanic languages we see the results of the PIE word in German fragen "to ask", Frage "question" and Forschung "research". In the Slavic languages we find Russian prosit' "to ask for", Serbian prosim "please", and Czech and Slovak prosím "please". Lithuanian prašyti "ask for, request" comes from the same PIE source. (Lest our old friend and prolific contributor George Kovac imprecate us, let us all tip our hats and offer a word of gratitude to him for recommending such a fascinating Good Word.)

[George Kovac]

Hemingway observed that the quality of cursing declines as a culture’s adherence to traditional religion diminishes. Writing in the 1930s, he thought that the Spanish were more accomplished at cursing than the English.

Hemingway would agree that it is hard to find high quality imprecations in the 21st century, where devotion has faded to velleity in many places. But here is a gem.

Australia banned tourists from climbing the rock formation known as Uluru, in deference to the religious beliefs of the indigenous Anangu community, who regard the formation as sacred. On the last day Uluru was open for climbing, hundreds of tourist scrambled for their one last chance, prompting this imprecation as reported by the Associated Press:

“Prominent indigenous academic Marcia Langton reacted to the stream of climbers with a tweet: ‘A curse will fall on all of them. They will remember how they defiled this sacred place until they die & history will record their contempt for Aboriginal culture,’ Langton added."

Well done! Professor Langton is a world class imprecator.

[Philip Hudson]

There is much discussion among theologians about the Imprecatory Psalms. The New Testament clearly says we are not to curse people. Pastor Paul LeBoutillier, a Canadian, attempts to bridge the apparent gap between two opposite positions. I am not agreeing or disagreeing with him. But I am sure good trumps evil in the final analysis. If you have a half hour to spend on this, you may listen to this Youtube site. In any case, know that God loves all people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZWETFOPkJ4

[George Kovac]

Over a period of years, I participated in a weekly discussion group focused on Genesis, particularly the Jacob narrative cycle. As the iconoclastic member of the group, I frequently questioned why Jacob is revered as a patriarch given his numerous character flaws and poor or weak judgment from time to time. As he lay dying, eager to lie in peace with his beloved departed Rachel (it is quite a moving passage in Genesis), Jacob takes time out to imprecate several of his sons (a shocking and discordant part of the passage.)

I have come to reconcile the various and conflicting elements of Jacob, even the deathbed imprecations, but that is a topic beyond the space and scope of this site.