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anathema

/əˈnæθəmə/

/əˈnæθəmə/

Other forms: anathemas

Something that one absolutely and positively cannot stand is anathema. Garlic is anathema to vampires (ditto for stakes and daylight). So is kryptonite to Superman or a silver bullet to a werewolf.

Originally the term anathema comes from the Catholic practice of denouncing a particular individual or idea that was antithetical to the Catholic Church. If done to a person, it excommunicated them, meaning they could no longer partake in the church's sacraments (with presumably pretty poor consequences for the soul.) That's a lot worse than kryptonite.

Definitions of anathema
  1. noun
    a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
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    type of:
    condemnation, curse, execration
    an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group
  2. noun
    a detested person or thing
    “he is an anathema to me”
    synonyms: bete noire
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    type of:
    disagreeable person, unpleasant person
    a person who is not pleasant or agreeable
  3. noun
    something that inspires dislike; something horrible
    synonyms: horror
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    type of:
    thing
    an entity that is not named specifically
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