amaldiçoar, invocar maldição, praguejar
1. to invoke evil or misfortune upon someone; to curse
The witch would imprecate those who wronged her.
A bruxa amaldiçoava aqueles que a prejudicavam.
2. to utter curses or profanities
He began to imprecate loudly after stubbing his toe.
Ele começou a praguejar alto depois de bater o dedão do pé.
3. to appeal to or invoke (a deity or power) for evil or vengeance
Ancient peoples would imprecate the gods against their enemies.
Os povos antigos invocavam os deuses contra seus inimigos para trazer maldição.
This is a formal, literary, and somewhat archaic verb in both English and Portuguese. It is rarely used in everyday conversation and appears more frequently in classical literature, religious texts, and formal writing. The word carries a dramatic, often theatrical quality and is associated with traditional curses or invocations of divine punishment.
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