“To understand the word anathema”, says Vigouroux, “we should first go back to the real meaning of herem of which it is the equivalent. Herem comes from the word haram, to cut off, to separate, to curse, and indicates that which is cursed and condemned to be cut off or ex...
The form ἀνάθεμα, as well as its meaning, appears to be peculiar to the Hellenistic dialect (Valekenaer, Schol. 1, 593). The distinction has probably arisen from the special use made of the word by the Greek Jews. In the Sept. ἀνάθεμα is the ordinary rendering...
before vowelsan-, word-forming element meaning: 1. "upward, up in place or time," 2. "back, backward, against," 3. "again, anew," from Greekana(prep.) "up, on, upon; up to, toward; throughout; back, backwards; again, anew," from an extended form of PIE root*an-(1) "on...
"an accursed thing," from Latin anathema "an excommunicated person; the curse of… See origin and meaning of anathema.