imprecations

Imprecations are expressions that invoke harm, misfortune, or punishment upon a person, group, or object, typically through spoken words, writing, or ritual formulas. They are usually distinguished from general hostility by their ritual or theological framing, often seeking influence from a higher power or supernatural force.

Etymology traces the term to Latin imprecari, “to invoke evil upon,” from im- “upon” and precari “to pray.” Across cultures, imprecations have appeared in various forms, from everyday curses to formal ritual utterances, reflecting beliefs about divine retribution and the power of language.

Historically, imprecations have played a role in religious and magical practices. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, defixiones or curse tablets were inscribed with a target’s name and placed in temples or graves to solicit punishment. In Mesopotamia and other Near Eastern traditions, incantations and curses invoked gods to afflict enemies or bring about misfortune. The Hebrew Bible contains imprecatory psalms that petition divine judgment on adversaries. While some traditions treated such expressions as a legitimate means of social or cosmic accounting, others discouraged or prohibited them as dangerous or unethical.

In modern usage, imprecation can refer to any strongly worded wish for harm, whether in everyday speech, poetry, or fiction. Some religious communities continue to practice imprecatory prayers under specific circumstances, while others view them as morally problematic. In literature and popular culture, imprecations function as dramatic devices that illuminate conflict, moral boundaries, and the power of language to influence outcomes.

Related topics include curse, malediction, and ritual invocations.