- Cursing
- Curse Curse (k?rs), v. 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.
[1913 Webster]
Thou shalt not . . . curse the ruler of thy people. --Ex. xxii. 28. [1913 Webster]
Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
On impious realms and barbarous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
{To curse by bell, book, and candle}. See under {Bell}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.