anathema

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
2. Proto-Hellenic*aná
3. Ancient Greekᾰ̓νᾰ́ (ănắ)
4. Ancient Greekἀνα- (ana-)
5. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
6. Proto-Indo-European*dʰédʰeh₁ti
7. Ancient Greekτίθημι (títhēmi)
8. Ancient Greekἀνᾰτίθημῐ (anătíthēmĭ)
9. Ancient Greekἀνάθεμα (anáthema)
10. Late Latinanathema
11. English todayanathema

Borrowed from Late Latin anathema (“curse, person cursed, offering”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀνάθεμα (anáthema, “something dedicated, especially dedicated to eternal damnation”), from ἀνατίθημι (anatíthēmi, “to set upon, offer as a votive gift”), from ἀνά (aná, “upon”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put, place”). The Ancient Greek term was influenced by Hebrew חרם (herem), leading to the sense of "accursed," especially in Ecclesiastical writers.

First known use, by meaning

• from early 17th c. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, often accompanied by excommunication; something denounced as accursed.
• from 1520s Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority to unending punishment.