Word of the day: execrate

The word of the day is execrate:

1. to detest utterly; abhor; abominate.

2. to curse; imprecate evil upon; damn; denounce.

 

verb (used without object), execrated, execrating.

3. to utter curses.

1555-65; < Latin ex (s) ecrātus (past participle of ex (s) ecrārī to curse), equivalent to ex- ex-¹+ secr- (combining form of sacrāre to consecrate; see sacrament ) + -ātus -ate¹

"Water was splashing, and mud was flying, and oaths were being sworn, and blows were being struck, when some more men went down into the ditch to help the sergeant, and dragged out, separately, my convict and the other one.  Both were bleeding and panting and execrating and struggling; but of course I knew them both directly."

 - Charles Dickens, Great Expectations