curse

[kurs] /kɜrs/
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 preceded by the).
9.
an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.
verb (used with object), cursed or curst, cursing.
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), cursed or curst, cursing.
15.
to utter curses; swear profanely.
Origin
before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (v.), Old English curs (noun), cursian (v.), of disputed orig.
Related forms
curser, noun
outcurse, verb (used with object), outcursed, outcursing.
uncursing, adjective
Can be confused
coarse, course, curse, cuss.
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.
Examples from the web for curse
  • The triumphs of childhood curse the rest of our days.
  • The movie tells the story of a curse that befalls people who die in the grip of a powerful rage.
  • If there is a cause, there is a cure and those with that curse can be brought back to normalcy or some semblance of a normal life.
  • One of the few foil cutters that can handle the curse of the hirsute.
  • We found that when the former president is still around it can be either a blessing or a curse.
  • It is a perfect example of the so-called resource curse.
  • It is the curse of paleontologists that they can never attain a definitive understanding of the creatures that so captivate them.
  • The curse of these lightweight birds is that they injure all too easily.
  • Post a curse over the grave so that nobody will dig it up.
  • However, what is a blessing for the atmosphere turns out to be a curse for the oceans.
British Dictionary definitions for curse

curse

/kɜːs/
noun
1.
a profane or obscene expression of anger, disgust, surprise, etc; oath
2.
an appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person, group, etc
3.
harm resulting from an appeal to a supernatural power: to be under a curse
4.
something that brings or causes great trouble or harm
5.
a saying, charm, effigy, etc, used to invoke a curse
6.
an ecclesiastical censure of excommunication
7.
(informal) the curse, menstruation or a menstrual period
verb curses, cursing, cursed, (archaic) curst
8.
(intransitive) to utter obscenities or oaths
9.
(transitive) to abuse (someone) with obscenities or oaths
10.
(transitive) to invoke supernatural powers to bring harm to (someone or something)
11.
(transitive) to bring harm upon
12.
(transitive) another word for excommunicate
Derived Forms
curser, noun
Word Origin
Old English cursian to curse, from curs a curse
Word Origin and History for curse
n.

late Old English curs "a prayer that evil or harm befall one," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old French curuz "anger," or Latin cursus "course." Connection with cross is unlikely. No similar word exists in Germanic, Romance, or Celtic. Curses as a histrionic exclamation is from 1885. The curse "menstruation" is from 1930. Curse of Scotland, the 9 of diamonds in cards, is attested from 1791, but the origin is obscure.

v.

Old English cursian, from the source of curse (n.). Meaning "to swear profanely" is from early 13c. Related: Cursed; cursing.

curse in the Bible

denounced by God against the serpent (Gen. 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Gen. 9:25; 49:7; Deut. 27:15; Josh. 6:26). Such curses are not the consequence of passion or revenge, they are predictions. No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Ex. 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Lev. 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death (Lev. 24:10-16). The words "curse God and die" (R.V., "renounce God and die"), used by Job's wife (Job 2:9), have been variously interpreted. Perhaps they simply mean that as nothing but death was expected, God would by this cursing at once interpose and destroy Job, and so put an end to his sufferings.