malison

noun

mal·​i·​son ˈma-lə-sən 

-zən

: curse, malediction

Did you know?

Malison is still hanging on after being around for eight centuries, but it appears to have suffered the curse of time. Though "malison" still sees occasional use, it is no longer as common as it was in days of yore. Rather, it has been largely supplanted by its younger cousin "malediction." "Malison" and "malediction" are both descendants of the Late Latin word maledictio, itself from maledicere, meaning "to curse." "Maledicere" in turn traces back to Latin male, meaning "badly," and dicere, meaning "to speak or say."

Synonyms

• anathema
• ban
• curse
• execration
• imprecation
• malediction
• winze [Scottish]

Examples of malison in a Sentence

muttered terrible malisons against the people trying to seize her family's property

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French maleiçun, from Late Latin malediction-, maledictio

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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