anathematize

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The Word of the Day for January 10 is: 

anathematize   \uh-NATH-uh-muh-tyze\   verb
          : curse, denounce

Example sentence:
          The biography presents a balanced account of the life of a writer 
whose work was beloved by the masses and anathematized by critics.

Did you know?
          When 16th-century English speakers needed a verb meaning "to condemn 
by anathema" (that is, by an official curse from church authority), 
"anathematize" proved to be just the right word. But "anathematize" didn't 
originate in English as a combination of the noun "anathema" and the suffix 
"-ize." Rather, our verb is based on forebears in Late Latin ("anathematizare") 
and Greek ("anathematizein"). "Anathematize" can still indicate solemn, formal 
condemnation, but today it can also have milder applications. The same is true 
of "anathema," which now often means simply "a vigorous denunciation."





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