Curse | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Cŭrse, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. CURSED (kŭrst) or CURST; p. pr. & vb. n. CURSING.] [A. S. cursian, corsian, to curse; curs, cors, curse; probably at first to imprecate evil in the name of the cross. Cf. Dan. & Sw. kors, cross, Dan. korse, Sw. korsa, to make the sign of a cross.]

Sense 1. To utter a wish of evil against; to invoke harm against; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate.

Thou shalt not . . . curse the ruler of thy people. Ex. xxii. 28.

Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed. Shak.

Sense 2. To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to vex, harass, or torment; to injure.

On impious realms and barbarous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those. Pope.

Curse, v. i.

verbintransitive

To utter imprecations, maledictions, or curses; to use profane language; to swear.

Then began he to curse and to swear. Matt. xxvi. 74.

His spirits hear me, And yet I needs must curse. Shak.

Cúrse, n.

noun

n. 1. The invocation of harm or injury; malediction; imprecation of evil upon another.

*Lady, you know no rule of charity Which renders good for bad, blessing for curses. Shak.*

Sense 2. Evil, solemnly, or in passion, pronounced or invoked upon another.

The priest shall write these curses in a book. Num. v. 23.

Curses, like chickens, come home to roost. Old Proverb.

Sense 3. The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment.

The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance. Shak.

*All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget, Is propagated curses. Milton.*

Synonyms—Malediction; imprecation; execration. See MALEDICTION.