curse

[kurs]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR curse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

the act of reciting such a formula.

a profane oath; curse word.

an evil that has been invoked upon one.

the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.

something accursed.

Slang. the menstrual period; menstruation (usually preceded by the).

an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.

verb (used with object), cursed or curst, curs·ing.

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

to swear at.

to blaspheme.

to afflict with great evil.

to excommunicate.

verb (used without object), cursed or curst, curs·ing.

to utter curses; swear profanely.

Origin of curse

before 1050; Middle English curs (noun), cursen (verb), Old English curs (noun), cursian (verb), of disputed origin

Related formscurs·er, nounout·curse, verb (used with object), out·cursed, out·curs·ing.un·curs·ing, adjective

Can be confusedcoarse course cursecurse cuss

Synonyms for curse

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR curse ON THESAURUS.COM

1, 9. imprecation, execration, fulmination, malediction. 5. misfortune, calamity, trouble. 5, 6. bane, scourge, plague, affliction, torment. 13. plague, scourge, afflict, doom.

Synonym study

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: to curse an enemy. 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.

Antonyms for curse

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for cursing

cuss, imprecate, blaspheme, flame, execrate

Examples from the Web for cursing

Contemporary Examples of cursing

It was after Brown refused, cursing at him and continuing to walk in the street, that Wilson said he made the connection.
The Three Biggest Unanswered Questions About Ferguson
Jacob Siegel
November 26, 2014
Goodness knows I paid my share into the office “cursing jar” when I worked for her.
A Letter of Thanks to Michelle Rhee
Dmitri Mehlhorn
August 16, 2014
Now, after the sharp, wildly fun two-part Veep finale, Selina Meyer is cursing all the way from the West Wing.
The ‘Veep’ Finale Twist Was Genius
Kevin Fallon
June 9, 2014
Before I figured this out, I spent many hours cursing at the technology on my head.
High-Tech Meditation: Swap Your Yogi for a Headset
Gregory Ferenstein
April 14, 2014
It may seem as a shock to Veep fans, but all that cursing is actually an act in expert editing and judiciousness.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing
Kevin Fallon
April 7, 2014

Historical Examples of cursing

He fondly imagined that they were cursing hard, if not loud.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
A heavy body stumbled toward them, cursing in strange phrases.
Slaves of Mercury
Nat Schachner
Everyone is shouting to his animals and cursing in his own language.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)
Various
Young Badman 'was greatly given also to swearing and cursing.'
Bunyan
James Anthony Froude
Me, Morgan la fée, espouse one of these roistering, cursing foreigners?
Louisiana Lou
William West Winter

British Dictionary definitions for cursing

curse

noun

a profane or obscene expression of anger, disgust, surprise, etc; oath

an appeal to a supernatural power for harm to come to a specific person, group, etc

harm resulting from an appeal to a supernatural powerto be under a curse

something that brings or causes great trouble or harm

a saying, charm, effigy, etc, used to invoke a curse

an ecclesiastical censure of excommunication

the curse informal menstruation or a menstrual period

verb curses, cursing, cursed or archaic curst

(intr) to utter obscenities or oaths

(tr) to abuse (someone) with obscenities or oaths

(tr) to invoke supernatural powers to bring harm to (someone or something)

(tr) to bring harm upon

(tr) another word for excommunicate

Derived Formscurser, noun

Word Origin for curse

Old English cursian to curse, from curs a curse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cursing

curse

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

curse

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.