Curse — Defs

01 v. t. To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.

imp. & p. p. Cursed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cursing

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.” — Shak.
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.” — Pope.

Phrases & compounds

To curse by bell, book, and candle — See under Bell.

02 v. i. To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear.

1.
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 curse.” — Shak.

03 n. An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction.

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.” — Shak.
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.” — Shak.

“All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget, Is propagated curse.” — Milton.

Phrases & compounds

The curse of Scotland — the nine of diamonds.

Not worth a curse — See under Cress.

Syn. Malediction; imprecation; execration. See Malediction.