curst

[kurst]

verb

a simple past tense and past participle of curse.

adjective

cursed.

Related formscurst·ly, adverbcurst·ness, noun

curse

[kurs]

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

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 curst

bane, obscenity, expletive, profanity, whammy, disaster, scourge, evil, calamity, burden, jinx, cuss, obloquy, malediction, execration, sacrilege, blasphemy, profanation, commination, imprecation

Examples from the Web for curst

Historical Examples of curst

Shall my foolish heart be burst, 'Cause I see a woman's curst?
The Book of Humorous Verse
Various
You've druv me from my home, and I'll have your curst blood for it yet.
Matilda Montgomerie
Major (John) Richardson
I always abhor'd the Art of Patience, and curst all Fisher-men.
The Life and Death of Doctor Faustus Made into a Farce
William Mountfort
Here in the shout that rings upon my ear, Here in the glance that curst me with forgiveness.
Joan of Arc
Jane Alice Sargant
I won't frank from you, or for you, or to you—may I be curst if I do, unless you mend your manners.
Life of Lord Byron, Vol. II
Thomas Moore

British Dictionary definitions for curst

curst

verb

archaic a past tense and past participle of curse

adjective

a variant of cursed

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 curst

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.