CURSE Definition & Meaning

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curse

[ kurs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the expression of a wish that misfortune, evil, doom, etc., befall a person, group, etc.
Synonyms: , , ,
Antonyms: ,
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.
Synonyms: , , , , , , ,
the cause of evil, misfortune, or trouble.
Synonyms: , , , ,
something accursed.
Informal. Usually the curse. the menstrual period; menstruation.
an ecclesiastical censure or anathema.
Synonyms: , , ,
Antonyms: ,

verb (used with object)

cursed or curst, cursing.

to wish or invoke evil, calamity, injury, or destruction upon.
Antonyms:
to swear at.
to blaspheme.
to afflict with great evil.
Synonyms: , , ,
to excommunicate.

verb (used without object)

cursed or curst, cursing.

to utter curses; swear profanely.

curse

/ ��ɜː�� /

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 power
to 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

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

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Derived Forms

ˈ��ܰ��, noun

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ܰ��·�� noun
�ǳܳ�·��ܰ�� verb (used with object) outcursed outcursing
�ܲ�·��ܰ��·��Բ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of curse¹

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

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of curse¹

Old English cursian to curse, from curs a curse

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Older adults were more likely than younger adults to consider it impolite to curse out loud, visibly display profanity or wear headphones or earbuds while talking to someone in person.

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If the teen dished out a beating to a misbehaving kid — someone who cursed at officers or defied their orders — he would be rewarded with In-N-Out, Jack in the Box, McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A.

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If you’re against mass deportations and want to see some sort of amnesty, it’s easy to feel deflated right now and even easier to curse Orange County for its past.

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When you are an actor and you direct, the industry thinks of you as an actor, which can be a curse.

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When he was new at Central, he said, he cursed at an officer, who then told another kid to beat him up in return for some Jack in the Box.

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