'anathema' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anathema', which came from Greek 'anathema', where 'ana-' meant 'up' and 'tithenai' meant 'to place'.

'anathema' was adopted into English from Late Latin 'anathema', which itself came from Greek 'anathema', and eventually became the modern English word 'anathema'.

Initially, it meant 'a thing devoted (to evil), an accursed thing', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'something or someone that is greatly detested or shunned'.