imprecate
UK/'imprikeit/US
TOEFL
Definitions
v.
To call down a curse upon someone; to invoke evil or harm against.
诅咒；祈求降祸于某人。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedim- (upon) + prec (pray) + -ate (verb) = "to pray upon someone" — to pray evil onto them, i.e. to curse. It is simply the verb behind imprecation. Rare and literary; if you know imprecation, this is its action form.
Root prec still carries 4 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.imprecate curse诅咒
- 2.imprecate blessing祈求祝福
Example Sentences
- 1.
The witch was said to imprecate ruin upon anyone who crossed her.
- 2.
He stood at the gate, imprecating curses on the men who had betrayed him.