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Curse

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

curse

[kurs] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, cursed or curst, curs·ing.

–noun

1.	the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.

2.	a formula or charm intended to cause such misfortune to another.

3.	the act of reciting such a formula.

4.	a profane oath; curse word.

5.	an evil that has been invoked upon one.

6.	the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.

7.	something accursed.

8.	Slang. the menstrual period; menstruation (usually prec. by the).

9.	an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.

–verb (used with object)

10.	to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon.

11.	to swear at.

12.	to blaspheme.

13.	to afflict with great evil.

14.	to excommunicate.

–verb (used without object)

15.	to utter curses; swear profanely.

[Origin: bef. 1050; ME curs (n.), cursen (v.), OE curs (n.), cursian (v.), of disputed orig.

]

—Related forms

curser, noun

—Synonyms 1, 9. imprecation, execration, fulmination, malediction. 5. misfortune, calamity, trouble. 5, 6. bane, scourge, plague, affliction, torment. 10-12. Curse, blaspheme, swear are often interchangeable in the sense of using profane language. However, curse is the general word for the heartfelt invoking or angry calling down of evil on another: They called down curses on their enemies. To blaspheme is to speak contemptuously or with abuse of God or of sacred things: to blaspheme openly. To swear is to use the name of God or of some holy person or thing as an exclamation to add force or show anger: to swear in every sentence. 13. plague, scourge, afflict, doom.

—Antonyms 1, 9. blessing, benediction. 10. bless.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

curse (kûrs) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. An appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something.
2. The evil or misfortune that comes in or as if in response to such an appeal: bewailed the curse of ill health.
One that is accursed.
A source or cause of evil; a scourge: "Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race" (William Ewart Gladstone).
A profane word or phrase; a swearword.
Ecclesiastical A censure, ban, or anathema.
Slang Menstruation. Used with the.

v. cursed or curst (kûrst), curs·ing, curs·es

v. tr.

To invoke evil or misfortune upon; damn.
To swear at.
To bring evil upon; afflict: was cursed with crippling arthritis.
Ecclesiastical To put under a ban or an anathema; excommunicate.

v. intr.
To utter curses; swear.

[Middle English, from Old English curs.]

curs'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
curse

O.E. curs "a prayer that evil or harm befall one," of uncertain origin, perhaps O.Fr. curuz "anger," or L. cursus "course." Connection with cross is unlikely. No similar word exists in Gmc., Romance, or Celtic. Meaning "to swear profanely" is from c.1230. Curses as a histrionic exclamation is from 1885. The curse "menstruation" is from 1930.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

curse
noun
1.	profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger; "expletives were deleted"
2.	an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group [syn: execration]
3.	an evil spell; "a witch put a curse on his whole family"; "he put the whammy on me" [syn: hex]
4.	something causing misery or death; "the bane of my life" [syn: bane]
5.	a severe affliction
verb
1.	utter obscenities or profanities; "The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street"
2.	heap obscenities upon; "The taxi driver who felt he didn't get a high enough tip cursed the passenger"
3.	wish harm upon; invoke evil upon; "The bad witch cursed the child" [ant: bless]
4.	exclude from a church or a religious community; "The gay priest was excommunicated when he married his partner" [syn: excommunicate] [ant: communicate]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Curse

Ac*curse"\, v. t. [OE. acursien, acorsien; pref. a + cursien to curse. See Curse.] To devote to destruction; to imprecate misery or evil upon; to curse; to execrate; to anathematize.

And the city shall be accursed. --Josh. vi. 17.

Thro' you, my life will be accurst. --Tennyson.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Curse

Curse\ (k?rs), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cursed (k?rst) or Curst; p. pr. & vb. n. Cursing.] [AS. cursian, corsian, perh. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. korse to make the sign of the cross, Sw. korsa, fr. Dan. & Sw. kors cross, Icel kross, all these Scand. words coming fr. OF. crois, croiz, fr. L. crux cross. Cf. Cross.]

1. To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.

Thou shalt not . . . curse the ruler of thy people. --Ex. xxii. 28.

Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed. --Shak.

2. To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment.

On impious realms and barbarous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those. --Pope.

To curse by bell, book, and candle. See under Bell.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Curse

Curse\, v. i. To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear.

Then began he to curse and to swear. --Matt. xxi. 74.

His spirits hear me, And yet I need must curse. --Shak.

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