Nearby Words

cursed

[kur-sid, kurst] Origin

curs·ed

[kur-sid, kurst]
adjective
1.
under a curse; damned.
2.
deserving a curse; hateful; abominable.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English; see curse, -ed2

curs·ed·ly, adverb
curs·ed·ness, noun
un·cursed, adjective


1. accursed. 2. damnable, execrable.

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Cursed is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

curse

[kurs] 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.
EXPAND
6.
the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.
7.
something accursed.
8.
Slang. the menstrual period; menstruation (usually preceded by the).
9.
an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.
COLLAPSE
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:
before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (v.), Old English curs (noun), cursian (v.), of disputed orig.

curs·er, noun
out·curse, verb (used with object), -cursed, -curs·ing.
un·curs·ing, adjective

coarse, course, curse, cuss.


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.


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

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
cursed or curst (ˈkɜːsɪd, kɜːst)
 
adj
1.  under a curse
2.  deserving to be cursed; detestable; hateful
 
curst or curst
 
adj
 
'cursedly or curst
 
adv
 
'cursedness or curst
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

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.
EXPAND
The curse "menstruation" is from 1930.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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