Curse
Curse (k?rs) , transitive verb
[Anglo-Saxon cursian, corsian, perh. of Scand. origin; compare Danish korse to make the sign of the cross, Swedish korsa, from Danish & Swedish kors cross, Icel kross, all these Scand. words coming from Old French crois, croiz, from Latin crux cross. Compare Cross.]
1.
To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.
Thou shalt not... curse the ruler of thy people.
Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed.
2.
To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment.
On impious realms and barbarous kings impose
Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those.
Collocations (1)
To curse by bell, book, and candle , See under Bell.
Curse , intransitive verb
To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear.
Then began he to curse and to swear.
His spirits hear me,
And yet I need must curse.
Curse , noun
[Anglo-Saxon curs. See Curse, transitive verb]
1.
An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction.
Lady, you know no rules of charity,
Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses.
2.
Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion; subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation.
The priest shall write these curses in a book.
Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
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.
All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget,
Is propagated curse.
Collocations (2)
The curse of Scotland (Card Playing) , the nine of diamonds.
Not worth a curse , See under Cress.