v. [f. L. execrāt- (exsecrāt-) ppl. stem of execrāri (essecrāri) to curse, f. ex- (see EX- pref.1) + sacrāre to devote religiously (in good sense, to a deity; in bad sense, to destruction), f. sacr-um (masc. nom. sacer) devoted, religiously set apart; hence, in good sense, hallowed to a deity, SACRED; and in bad sense, devoted to destruction, accursed. Cf. consecrate.]
† 1. trans. To pronounce a curse upon; to declare accursed. To execrate out: to drive out with a curse. Obs. rare.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. xxviii. (1840), 229. His own share [of goods] he execrated, and caused it to be burnt.
1691. E. Taylor, Behmen’s Theos. Philos., xv. 272. Became execrated out of Paradise.
absol. 1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 265. It is one thing for the Church to excommunicate, another to curse and execrate.
† b. Occasionally used by way of antithesis to consecrate: To make unholy. Obs.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. 1846, I. 193. The bastard Bischope, who yit was not execrated (consecrated thei call it).
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler (ed. 3), 34. A great Popish Bishop in execrating a Protestant Par. Church one day, and consecrating it the next.
1656. Artif. Handsom., 156. As if meer plebeian noyse … were enough to … execrate any thing, as divine, devilish.
2. To imprecate evil upon (as an expression of hatred); to express or feel intense loathing or abhorrence for; to abhor, detest.
1561. trans. Calvin’s 4 Godly Serm., i. D j. The Iewes … of that time … are commaunded … to execrate the idolatrie of the Chaldeans.
1697. Temple, Misc. (ed. 5), 81 (J.). Some form very contrary to that which they lately execrated and detested.
1765. G. Colman, Terence, Pref. p. xlii. The learned Mons. Le Fevre wrote a most elegant copy of Latin Verses, execrating the Flute, and all the commentators on it.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. 58. The name of Arius was execrated.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. viii. 543. Their views … would have been execrated as impious novelties.
† 3. To call down (something) upon (a person) as a curse; to imprecate. Obs. rare.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., Epit. (1612), 374. In maintenance of a falsehood … he execrated vpon himselfe a choaking.
4. intr. To utter curses.
1786. Francis, the Philanthropist, xv. 202. He received a thousand curses from his master, who continued to execrate the whole way to Dartford.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., The Ghost. He execrated Ere he crawled into bed.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. (1865), I. IV. iii. 294. England … execrates lamentably over its William Conqueror.
Hence Execrated ppl. a., accursed, detested. Execrating ppl. a., that execrates.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 174. If any man who serves at the altar be accused of a crime … let him eat the execrated bread [mistranslation of OE. corsnǽd].
1769. Oxford Mag., II. 144/1. This execrated, because culpable child.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1371. We saw this execrated island at the distance of about four leagues.
1829. [H. B. Henderson], Bengalee, 61. All these … spake execrating volumes against the complicated cruelty.
1878. [see EXECRABLE 2].
