curse

Study(25)

UK /kɜːs/ US /kɝs/

noun 5verb 5

Collocations

(noun.) word used for expressing anger

ADJ

impatient

VERB + CURSE

mutter, utter

(noun.) wish that sth terrible will happen to sb

VERB + CURSE

utter | put

PREP

under a ~

The old house seemed to be under a curse because everything kept breaking down.

~ on/upon

The family believed a curse was on their land after a series of unfortunate events.

(verb.)

ADV

roundly | loudly

quietly, softly, under your breath

She quietly cursed herself for forgetting her passport at home before the flight.

inwardly, silently

PREP

for

He cursed himself for forgetting his wallet at home again.

PHRASES

curse the day

She cursed the day she decided to adopt that mischievous puppy.

curse your luck

He cursed his luck when he arrived at the station just as the last train departed.

Definitions

noun

A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.

If ye will not heare, and if yee will not lay it to heart, to giue glory vnto my name, saith the Lord of hostes; I will euen send a curse vpon you, and will curse your blessings: yea, I haue cursed them already, because yee doe not lay it to heart.

Oh Portius, is there not some choſen Curſe, Some hidden Thunder in the Stores of Heav’n, Red with uncommon Wrath, to blaſt the Man Who owes his Greatneſs to his Country’s Ruin?

A prayer or imprecation that harm may befall someone.

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

The common curſe of mankinde, Folly and Ignorance[…]

A vulgar epithet.

Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself.

A woman's menses.

verb

To place a curse upon (a person or object).

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

Captain Edward Carlisle[…]felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze,[…]; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.

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.

To speak or shout a vulgar curse or epithet.

To use offensive or morally inappropriate language.

Then beganne hee to curſe and to ſweare[…]

[…]his Spirits heare me, / And yet I needes muſt curſe.

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 barb’rous Kings, impoſe / Thy Plagues, and curſe 'em with ſuch Sons as thoſe.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

expletive
oath
swearing
swearword
cuss

noun — an evil spell

noun — an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on some

noun — a severe affliction

torment

noun — something causing misery or death

verb — utter obscenities or profanities

cuss
blaspheme
swear
imprecate

verb — wish harm upon

beshrew
damn
bedamn
anathemize
anathemise
imprecate
maledict

verb — exclude from a church or a religious community

excommunicate
unchurch

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness

Even in the face of hopelessness and discontent, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response, than to complain about the situation.

better to light one candle than to curse the darkness

Alternative form of better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.

better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Alternative form of better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.

better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness

Alternative form of better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.

Celtic curse

Hemochromatosis.

Example Bank

Wiktionary

Oh Portius, is there not some choſen Curſe, Some hidden Thunder in the Stores of Heav’n, Red with uncommon Wrath, to blaſt the Man Who owes his Greatneſs to his Country’s Ruin?

Wiktionary

“The farm's had a lot of bad luck, you see. Dad thinks there is a curse on the place.” “Most like. Most like,” said Catweazle, gobbling the banana.

Wiktionary

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them;

Wiktionary

Thou ſhalt not[…]curſe the ruler of thy people.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, curse is marked as dated, derogatory, slang. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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