Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Curse
Curse
(k?rs)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cursed
(k?rst)
or Curst
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cursing
.] [AS.
cursian
, corsian
, perh. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. korse
to make the sign of the cross, Sw. korsa
, fr. Dan. & Sw. kors
cross, Icel kross
, all these Scand. words coming fr. OF. crois
, croiz
, fr. L. crux
cross. Cf. 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. Ex. xxii. 28.
Ere sunset I’ll make thee
curse
the deed. Shakespeare
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
Thy plagues, and
curse
'em with such sons as those. Pope.
To curse by bell, book, and candle
. See under
Bell
.Curse
,Verb.
I.
To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear.
Then began he to
curse
and to swear. Matt. xxi. 74.
His spirits hear me,
And yet I need must
And yet I need must
curse
. Shakespeare
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
Which renders good for bad, blessings for
curses
. Shakespeare
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. Num. v. 23.
Curses
, like chickens, come home to roost. Old Proverb.
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. Shakespeare
All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget,
Is propagated
Is propagated
curse
. Milton.
Syn. – Malediction; imprecation; execration. See
Malediction
. Webster 1828 Edition
Curse
CURSE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To utter a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate.Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people. Exodus 22.
Bless and curse not. Romans 12.
Curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Numbers 22.
2.
To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, harass or torment with great calamities.On impious realms and barbarous kings impose thy plagues, and curse em with such sons as those.
3.
To devote to evil.CURSE
,Verb.
I.
Then began he to curse and to swear. Matthew 26.
CURSE
,Noun.
1.
Malediction; the expression of a wish of evil to another.Shimei--who cured me with a grievous curse. 1 Kings 2.
2.
Imprecation of evil.They entered into a curse, and into an oath. Nehemiah 10.
3.
Affliction; torment; great vexation.I will make this city a curse to all nations. Jeremiah 26.
4.
Condemnation; sentence of divine vengeance on sinners.Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3.
5.
Denunciation of evil.The priest shall write all these curses in a book. Numbers 5.