imprecatio

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

imprĕcātĭo (inpr-), ōnis, f. [imprecor],

I an invoking of evil , imprecation (postAug.): exsecraris illum et caput sanctum tibi dira imprecatione defigis, curse , Sen. Ben. 6, 35, 1; id. Ep. 94, 52: imprecationes nefariae, Amm. 29, 1, 25: dira, Plin. 5, 8, 8, § 45.—

II In late Lat., in a good sense, a prayer : pontificis, Hier. Ep. 130, n. 2.