Anathema comes from Greek, where it initially meant "anything devoted" and later "anything devoted to evil." The "consecrated to divine use" sense of anathema comes from that earlier Greek use but is not widely used today.
In the fifth century, a formal distinction between anathema and "minor" excommunication evolved, where "minor" excommunication entailed cutting off a person or group from the rite of Eucharist and attendance at worship, while anathema meant a complete separation of the subject from the Church.
ANATHEMA definition: a person or thing detested or loathed. See examples of anathema used in a sentence.
ANATHEMA definition: 1. something that is strongly disliked or disapproved of: 2. something that is strongly disliked…. Learn more.
Definition of anathema noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
anathema (plural anathemas or anathemata) (ecclesiastical, historical) A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, often accompanied by excommunication; something denounced as accursed. [from early 17th c.]
Anathema (noun): A detested or shunned individual or idea, often due to moral or ideological opposition. The word "anathema" carries a strong negative connotation and is often used to describe something or someone that is despised or condemned.
anathema, n.¹ & adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary