imprecation

noun

Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin imprecātiō (“calling down of curses”), from imprecor (“call down, invoke”).

1. The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone; a prayer that a curse or calamity may befall someone.

   “Hear then this dreadful imprecation; hear it: / 'Tis lay'd on all; not any one exempt: […]”

   “Her son turned to look at her as she reeled and swayed in the middle of the room, her fierce face convulsed with passion, her blotched arms raised high in imprecation. "May Gawd curse her forever," she shrieked.”

2. A curse.

   “Mr. Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey generally, but more particularly on his eyes; and, running after him, bestowed a blow on his head.”

   “He drank the spirits and impatiently bade us go; terminating his command with a sequel of horrid imprecations too bad to repeat or remember.”