[a. L. anathema an excommunicated person, also the curse of excommunication, a. Gr. ἀνάθεμα, orig. ‘a thing devoted,’ but in later usage ‘a thing devoted to evil, an accursed thing’ (see Rom. ix. 3). Orig. a var. of ἀνάθημα an offering, a thing set up (to the gods), n. of product f. ἀνατιθέναι to set up, f. ἀνά up + τιθέναι (stem θε-) to place. Pl. anathemas; also, in sense 3, anathe·mata. Cf. prec., and ANATHEME.
I. From eccl. Greek and Latin.
1. Anything accursed, or consigned to damnation. Also quasi-adj. Accursed, consigned to perdition.
1526. [See ANATHEMA MARANATHIA].
1625. Bacon, Ess., Goodness (Arb.), 207. He would wish to be an Anathema from Christ, for the Salvation of his Brethren.
1634. Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 162. Delivered over unto Satan, proclaimed publicans, heathens, anathema.
1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., II. 299. Saint Paul wished to become anathema himself, so he could thereby save his brethren.
2. The formal act, or formula, of consigning to damnation. a. The curse of God. b. The great curse of the church, cutting off a person from the communion of the church visible, and formally handing him over to Satan; or denouncing any doctrine or practice as damnable. Hence c. Any denunciation or imprecation of divine wrath against alleged impiety, heresy, etc. d. A curse or imprecation generally.
(The weakening of the sense has accompanied the free use of anathemas as weapons of ecclesiastical rancor.)
a. a. 1614. Donne, Βιαθανατος (1644), 192. Which Anathema … was utter damnation, as all Expositors say.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 64. The divine thunders out his anathemas.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., ii. 37. To strike with His anathema those who made a gain of their virtues.
b. 1590. Swinburn, Testaments, 60. Vnlesse he be excommunicate with that great curse, which is called Anathema.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xi. 404. The Donatists, whilest blessing themselves, cared not for the Churches Anathema’s.
1726. Ayliffe, Parerg., 256. An Anathema … differs from an Excommunication only in respect of a greater kind of Solemnity.
1769. Robertson, Charles V., III. VIII. 71. Against all who disclaimed the truth of these tenets, anathemas were denounced.
1844. Gladstone, Gleanings, V. xlv. 114. The Pope … has condemned the slave trade—but no more heed is paid to his anathema than to the passing wind.
c. 1782. Priestley, Nat. & Rev. Relig., II. 80. The Mohammedans denounce anathemas against unbelievers.
1850. Gladstone, Gleanings, V. xiv. 182. To deliver over to anathema the memories of our forefathers in the Church.
d. 1697. Norris, Pract. Disc., 90. Willing rather to err with the Multitude … than incur the great Censure, the heavy Anathema of Singularity.
a. 1757. Cibber, in Dilworth, Pope, 16. How then could you thunder out such anathema’s on your own enemies?
1827. Lytton, Pelham, lxvii. (1840), 294. ‘Confound the man!’ was my mental anathema.
1867. Lyd. Child, Romance Repub., xx. 237. The Signor … succeeded in smothering his half-uttered anathemas.
II. From the earlier sense of ἀνάθεμα or ἀνάθημα.
3. A thing devoted or consecrated to divine use.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 39. Anathema (saith Chrisostome) are those things which being consecrated to God, are laied up from other things.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 779. Will not permit a [spider’s] web—the very pattern, index, and anathema of supernaturall wisdome—to remain untouched.
1857. Birch, Anc. Pottery (1858), I. 178. The little figures, in the shape of animals … may have been votive offerings to the gods, such anathemata being offered by the poor.
