anathemt

Obsolete form of anathema. anathema (a-nath'ē-mä), n.; pl. anathemas, an a them at a (-mäz, an-a-them'a-tä). [LL. an a the ma, LL. ana thēma, an offering, a gift), lit. 'that which is set up'; anathema sec rated to the worship of God. The principal English uses, however, are derived from the form anathema.] 1. A person or thing held to be accursed or devoted to damnation or destruction. The Jewish nation was an anathema destined to destruction. St. Paul. says he could wish to save them from it, and to become an anathema , and to be destroyed himself. Locke , Paraphrase of Rom. ix. 3. It is God's will, the Holy Father's will, And Philip's will, and mine, that he should burn. He is pronounced anathema . Tennyson, Queen Mary, iv. 1. 2. A curse or denunciation pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, involving excommunication. This species of excommunication was practised in the ancient churches against incorrigible offenders. Churches were warned not to receive them, magistrates and private persons were admonished not to harbor or maintain them, and priests were enjoined not to converse with them or attend their funerals. Also called judiciary anathema. The formula, "which if anybody deny let him be anathema," is commonly added to the decrees of ecclesiastical councils, and especially to the doctrinal canons of ecumenical councils. It is denied by some theologians that the idea of a curse properly belongs to the anathema as used in the Christian church. See excommunication. In pronouncing anathema against wilful heretics, the Church does but declare that they are excluded from her communion, and that they must, if they continue obstinate, perish eternally. Cath . Dict . Hence-3. Any imprecation of divine punishment; a curse; an execration. She fled to London, followed by the anathemas of both. Thackeray , Vanity Fair. Drawing his falchion and uttering a you sand an a the mas , he strode down to the scene of combat. Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 382. 4. Anything devoted to religious uses. - Abjuratory anathema, the act of a convert who anathematizes the heresy which he abjures. - Anathema maranatha (mar-an-a tha, prop. ma-ran"a-tha'). [LL. (Vulgate) ana thema, Maran atha, another sentence, Μαρὰν ἀθά, If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran- atha . [Revised version, "let him be anathema. Maran atha."] 1 Cor. xvi. 22. =Syn. 2 and 3. Curse, Execration, etc. See malediction. an athematic (a-nath-e-mat'ik), a. [ ema.