Question

Identify the correct meaning of the given word:
Malediction
a) A curse
b) Farewell words
c) Good omen
d) A closing prayer

Answer 1

Hint: Malediction refers to the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult). For example- She says her ancestral family had brought many maledictions upon themselves.
In the given question, we have to find the description that best matches the given word ‘malediction’.

Complete answer:
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'A curse', refers to an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group. So, the correct answer is “Option a” as this description is synonymous with that of the meaning of the given word ‘malediction’.

Option (b.), ‘Farewell words', an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting. Therefore, option (b.) is thus incorrect as it is not a relevant description for the given word ‘malediction’.

Option (c.), ‘Good omen’, refers to a positive sign of something about to happen.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as it is not a relevant description for the given word ‘malediction’.

Option (d.), ‘A closing prayer', refers to a reverent petition to a deity/ certain someone during the end of a ceremony. Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as it is not a relevant description for the given word ‘malediction’.

Note:
In this type of question, recall the meaning of the word given in the question and then look for the option that best resembles the meaning of the given word. That option will be correct.
Some synonyms of the word ‘malediction’ are- curse, oath, imprecation, damning, hex.
Antonym- a blessing.