damn

[dam] /dæm/
verb (used with object)
1.
to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.
2.
to condemn as a failure:
to damn a play.
3.
to bring condemnation upon; ruin.
4.
to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.
5.
to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”:
Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!
verb (used without object)
6.
to use the word “damn”; swear.
interjection
7.
(used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)
noun
8.
the utterance of “damn” in swearing or for emphasis.
9.
something of negligible value:
not worth a damn.
adjective
10.
damned (defs 2, 3).
adverb
11.
damned.
Idioms
12.
damn well, Informal. damned (def 7).
13.
damn with faint praise, to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn:
The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.
14.
give a damn, Informal. to care; be concerned; consider as important:
You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions.
Also, give a darn.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English dam(p)nen < Old French dam(p)ner < Latin damnāre to condemn, derivative of damnum damage, fine, harm
Related forms
damner, noun
predamn, verb (used with object)
Synonyms
2. berate, censure, denounce, disparage, blast.
Examples from the web for damn
  • Mostly they follow the notion of life as one damn thing after the other.
British Dictionary definitions for damn

damn

/dæm/
interjection
1.
(slang) an exclamation of annoyance (often in exclamatory phrases such as damn it! damn you! etc)
2.
(informal) an exclamation of surprise or pleasure (esp in the exclamatory phrase damn me!)
adjective
3.
(prenominal) (slang) deserving damnation; detestable
adverb, adjective (prenominal)
4.
(slang) (intensifier): damn fool, a damn good pianist
adverb
5.
(slang) damn all, absolutely nothing
verb (mainly transitive)
6.
to condemn as bad, worthless, etc
7.
to curse
8.
to condemn to eternal damnation
9.
(often passive) to doom to ruin; cause to fail: the venture was damned from the start
10.
(also intransitive) to prove (someone) guilty: damning evidence
11.
to swear (at) using the word damn
12.
(Brit, informal) as near as damn it, as near as possible; very near
13.
damn with faint praise, to praise so unenthusiastically that the effect is condemnation
noun
14.
(slang) something of negligible value; jot (esp in the phrase not worth a damn)
15.
(informal) not give a damn, to be unconcerned; not care
Word Origin
C13: from Old French dampner, from Latin damnāre to injure, condemn, from damnum loss, injury, penalty
Word Origin and History for damn
v.

late 13c., "to condemn," from Old French damner "damn, condemn; convict, blame; injure," derivative of Latin damnare "to adjudge guilty; to doom; to condemn, blame, reject," from noun damnum "damage, hurt, harm; loss, injury; a fine, penalty," possibly from an ancient religious term from PIE *dap- "to apportion in exchange" [see Watkins]. The Latin word evolved a legal meaning of "pronounce judgment upon." Theological sense is first recorded early 14c.; the optative expletive use likely is as old.

Damn and its derivatives generally were avoided in print from 18c. to c.1930s (the famous line in the film version of "Gone with the Wind" was a breakthrough and required much effort by the studio). The noun is recorded from 1610s; to be not worth a damn is from 1817. The adjective is 1775, short for damned; Damn Yankee, characteristic Southern U.S. term for "Northerner," is attested from 1812. Related: Damning.

Slang definitions & phrases for damn

damn

adjective

(also damned) Cursed; accursed; wretched: What do I do with this damned thing? adv: You seem damn stupid all of a sudden

interjection

(also damn it) An exclamation of disappointment, irritation, frustration, etc: Damn, it's gone!

verb

To execrate; condemn; curse: Damn this dictionary! (1770s+)

Related Terms

hot damn


Idioms and Phrases with damn

damn

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