'anathematise' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'anathematizare,' where 'anathema' meant 'a curse' and the suffix '-izare' meant 'to make or do.'

'anathematizare' transformed into the Medieval Latin 'anathematizare,' then into the French 'anathématiser,' and eventually became the modern English word 'anathematise.'

Initially, it meant 'to curse or excommunicate,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage, especially in religious contexts.