From Middle English curse, kors, cors, curs, from Old English cors, curs (“curse”), of unknown origin.
Meanings
A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.
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? 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
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. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Malachi 2:2:
“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. 1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 50:
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[…] c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
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. 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:
(dated, derogatory, slang, usually, with-definite-article) A woman's menses.
From Middle English cursen, corsen, coursen, from Old English corsian, cursian (“to curse”), from the noun (see above).
Meanings
(transitive) 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. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 22:10–12:
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. 1910, Emerson Hough, “A Lady in Company”, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
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. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 22:28, column 1:
(transitive) To speak or shout a vulgar curse or epithet.
(intransitive) To use offensive or morally inappropriate language.
[…]his Spirits heare me, / And yet I needes muſt curſe. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 9, column 1:
Then beganne hee to curſe and to ſweare[…] 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 26:74, column 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 barb’rous Kings, impoſe / Thy Plagues, and curſe 'em with ſuch Sons as thoſe. 1712 May, Statius, “The First Book of Statius his Thebais”, in [Alexander] Pope, transl., Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 29:
sv svära (to utter a vulgar curse) · izh manata (to utter a vulgar curse) · fr maudire (to place a curse upon) · rm blastmer (to utter a vulgar curse) · hi गाली देना (to use offensive language) · nb forbanne (to place a curse upon) · vi chửi thề (to utter a vulgar curse) · fi kirota (to utter a vulgar curse) · uz laʼnatlamoq (to place a curse upon) · az lənət oxumaq (to place a curse upon) · sq mallkoj (to place a curse upon) · tr küfretmek (to utter a vulgar curse) · ru матери́ть (to utter a vulgar curse) · fa نفرین کردن (to place a curse upon) · cu клѧти (to place a curse upon) · eo malbeni (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ru обматери́ть (to utter a vulgar curse) · izh manaella (to use offensive language) · mi oraora (to utter a vulgar curse) · ar شَتَمَ (to use offensive language) · el βρίζω (to utter a vulgar curse) · kok सोव्चे (to utter a vulgar curse) · vi rủa (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · non bǫlva (to place a curse upon) · krc къаргъаргъа (to place a curse upon) · az söyüş söymək (to use offensive language) · hy հայհոյել (to utter a vulgar curse) · it maledire (to place a curse upon) · arz شَتَمَ (to utter a vulgar curse) · ia blasphemar (to utter a vulgar curse) · de fluchen (to use offensive language) · ru клясть (to place a curse upon) · ota لعنتلمك (to place a curse upon) · eo blasfemi (to utter a vulgar curse) · es anatematizar (to place a curse upon) · zza zewti daye (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · mr शिवी देणे (to utter a vulgar curse) · pl przekląć (to place a curse upon) · uk матюка́тися (to use offensive language) · sh psòvati (to utter a vulgar curse) · es aojar (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · az qarğamaq (to place a curse upon) · mn хараал хийх (to place a curse upon) · nl verdoemen (to place a curse upon) · pdt flieekjen (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · pl przeklinać (to utter a vulgar curse) · ur لعنت بھیجنا (to place a curse upon) · pt maldizer (to use offensive language) · ja 悪態をつく (to use offensive language) · nb fordømme (to place a curse upon) · pl przeklinać (to use offensive language) · ru проклина́ть (to place a curse upon) · es imponer como maldición (to bring great evil upon) · hy ուշունց տալ (to utter a vulgar curse) · sh pròklēti (to place a curse upon) · ko 저주(詛呪)하다 (to place a curse upon) · vi nguyền rủa (to place a curse upon) · ang wierġan (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · th แช่ง (to place a curse upon) · de fluchen (to place a curse upon) · vo blasfämön (to use offensive language) · ky каргап-шилөө (to place a curse upon) · la exsecror (to utter a vulgar curse) · ko 저주(詛呪)를 내리다 (to place a curse upon) · nl vervloeken (to place a curse upon) · vo blasfämön (to utter a vulgar curse) · mi kohukohu (to utter a vulgar curse) · ar لَعَنَ (to place a curse upon) · ar لَعَنَ (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · pt praguejar (to utter a vulgar curse) · got 𐌹𐌳𐍅𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to use offensive language) · rm blasfemar (to utter a vulgar curse) · rm ingiurar (to utter a vulgar curse) · pt amaldiçoar (to place a curse upon) · pl przeklinać (to bring great evil upon) · vi nói bậy (to utter a vulgar curse) · nl vervloeken (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · kk қарғау (to place a curse upon) · scn maridiri (to place a curse upon) · sk kliať (to place a curse upon) · grc ὄνομαι (to place a curse upon) · sw kulaani (to place a curse upon) · vi chửi rủa (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · bg руга́я (to use offensive language) · es maldecir (to use offensive language) · ro înjura (to utter a vulgar curse) · la exsecror (to place a curse upon) · cs klít (to place a curse upon) · ug لەنەت ئوقۇماق (to place a curse upon) · vi văng tục (to use offensive language) · uk кля́сти (to place a curse upon) · cy melltithio (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · cs klít (to utter a vulgar curse) · sh псо̀вати (to utter a vulgar curse) · uz soʻkinmoq (to use offensive language) · nl beheksen (to place a curse upon) · sh про̀кле̄ти (to place a curse upon) · uk ла́ятися (to use offensive language) · th สาป (to place a curse upon) · vi chửi bậy (to utter a vulgar curse) · fi kirota (to place a curse upon) · vi nói tục (to use offensive language) · hi अभिशाप देना (to place a curse upon) · uk проклина́ти (to place a curse upon) · ca maleir (to place a curse upon) · wa mådi (to place a curse upon) · bg прокълна́ (to place a curse upon) · it imprecare (to utter a vulgar curse) · pt maldizer (to utter a vulgar curse) · de fluchen (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · yue 講粗口 /讲粗口 (to use offensive language) · scn malidiri (to place a curse upon) · pl przekląć (to utter a vulgar curse) · ru руга́ться (to use offensive language) · ko 저주(詛呪)하다 (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ml ശപിക്കുക (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · grc καταράομαι (to place a curse upon) · tr ilenmek (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · es anatematizar (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ko 욕하다 (to use offensive language) · eo sakri (to utter a vulgar curse) · tr kargımak (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · sga do·beir mallachta for (to place a curse upon) · rm ingiurier (to utter a vulgar curse) · rm diavlar (to utter a vulgar curse) · tyz bjắc bjoi (to use offensive language) · sk preklínať (to place a curse upon) · es imprecar (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · mi kanga (to utter a vulgar curse) · kk қарғап-сілеу (to place a curse upon) · la imprecor (to place a curse upon) · yi שילטן (to place a curse upon) · bg кълна́ (to place a curse upon) · cy rhegi (to utter a vulgar curse) · fa دشنام دادن (to use offensive language) · be пракля́сці (to place a curse upon) · vi hạ nhục (to bring great evil upon) · az yaman demək (to utter a vulgar curse) · la imprecor (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · tr kargımak (to bring great evil upon) · ia maledicer (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · la dētestor (to place a curse upon) · fi kirota (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · vi nguyền (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · zza neng çinayen (to utter a vulgar curse) · grc καταράομαι (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ml ശപിക്കുക (to place a curse upon) · eo sakri (to use offensive language) · mk про́колне (to place a curse upon) · alt каргаар (to place a curse upon) · he קילל (to place a curse upon) · fi kirota (to bring great evil upon) · tr beddua etmek (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · bg прокли́нам (to place a curse upon) · ky каргоо (to place a curse upon) · is bölva (to place a curse upon) · om abaaruu (to place a curse upon) · kk лағынеттеу (to place a curse upon) · pl przekląć (to use offensive language) · tr bela okumak (to utter a vulgar curse) · hu megátkoz (to place a curse upon) · zdj ulaâni (to place a curse upon) · ja 罵る (to use offensive language) · pl przekląć (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ml ശപിക്കുക (to use offensive language) · pl przeklinać (to place a curse upon) · ar سَبَّ (to use offensive language) · tr bela okumak (to use offensive language) · mn ᠬᠠᠷᠢᠶᠠᠯ ᠬᠢᠬᠦ (to place a curse upon) · ka გინება (to use offensive language) · gl maldicir (to place a curse upon) · az söyüş söymək (to utter a vulgar curse) · sh опсо̀вати (to utter a vulgar curse) · tg нафрин кардан (to place a curse upon) · it maledire (to use offensive language) · izh keroella (to use offensive language) · ist bas'ciamà (to utter a vulgar curse) · pt maldizer (to place a curse upon) · ko 저주(詛呪)를 내리다 (to bring great evil upon) · ka დაწყევლა (to place a curse upon) · ml പിരാകുക (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · tr küfretmek (to use offensive language) · de fluchen (to utter a vulgar curse) · eo malbeni (to bring great evil upon) · vi nguyền (to place a curse upon) · hu átkoz (to place a curse upon) · az lənətləmək (to place a curse upon) · ia maledicer (to place a curse upon) · sa शपति (to place a curse upon) · az nifrin etmək (to place a curse upon) · mk проко́лнува (to place a curse upon) · ko 욕(辱)을 하다 욕설(辱說)하다 (to utter a vulgar curse) · mk пцуе (to use offensive language) · njo-jgl atakatem (to place a curse upon) · vi nguyền rủa (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · pt amaldiçoar (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · izh manaella (to utter a vulgar curse) · ka გინება (to utter a vulgar curse) · tg ҳақорат кардан (to use offensive language) · dsb klěś (to utter a vulgar curse) · th สบถ (to use offensive language) · de schimpfen (to use offensive language) · fi kiroilla (to use offensive language) · eo malbeni (to place a curse upon) · da forbande (to place a curse upon) · scn maldiri (to place a curse upon) · pl kląć (to use offensive language) · sh klȇtī (to place a curse upon) · hi गाली देना (to utter a vulgar curse) · tr lanetlemek (to bring great evil upon) · uk прокля́сти (to place a curse upon) · ca maleir (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · de verfluchen (to place a curse upon) · sl preklinjati (to place a curse upon) · pl bluznąć (to use offensive language) · sq nëm (to place a curse upon) · fr maudire (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · de verdammen (to place a curse upon) · hy անիծել (to place a curse upon) · es imprecar (to place a curse upon) · sv fördöma (to place a curse upon) · ja 怒鳴る (to use offensive language) · es maldecir (to place a curse upon) · fur maledî (to place a curse upon) · izh keroella (to utter a vulgar curse) · hi कोसना (to utter a vulgar curse) · pl przeklinać (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · sh у̀кле̄ти (to place a curse upon) · pl bluzgać (to use offensive language) · cmn 詛咒 /诅咒 (to place a curse upon) · sh ùklēti (to place a curse upon) · hy հայհոյել (to use offensive language) · sk prekliať (to place a curse upon) · fr gronder (to use offensive language) · la exsecror (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · it bestemmiare (to utter a vulgar curse) · vi trù (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · pt rogar uma praga (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ia blasphemar (to use offensive language) · fa لعنت کردن (to place a curse upon) · kw molethi (to place a curse upon) · id kutuk (to place a curse upon) · el βρίζω (to use offensive language) · tr sövmek (to utter a vulgar curse) · rm sgiavlar (to utter a vulgar curse) · hi कोसना (to use offensive language) · cs proklínat (to place a curse upon) · ru матери́ться (to use offensive language) · izh kerota (to utter a vulgar curse) · la dētestor (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · tr sövmek (to use offensive language) · eo blasfemi (to use offensive language) · fa فحش دادن (to use offensive language) · is blóta (to use offensive language) · ang wierġan (to place a curse upon) · pl zakląć (to use offensive language) · vi chửi rủa (to place a curse upon) · ky наалат чачуу (to place a curse upon) · sh кле̑тӣ (to place a curse upon) · cs proklít (to place a curse upon) · tr lanetlemek (to place a curse upon) · mww cem (to place a curse upon) · ko 욕(辱)하다 (to utter a vulgar curse) · ota لعنتلمك (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · vi chửi (to use offensive language) · tyz bjắc (to use offensive language) · it maledire (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · pl przekląć (to bring great evil upon) · da sværge (to use offensive language) · hy քրֆել (to utter a vulgar curse) · ia maledicer (to bring great evil upon) · sw kulaani (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ru прокля́сть (to place a curse upon) · da fordømme (to place a curse upon) · be ла́яцца (to use offensive language) · ko 욕을 하다 욕설하다 (to use offensive language) · ru обруга́ть (to utter a vulgar curse) · cy rhegi (to use offensive language) · ru руга́ть (to utter a vulgar curse) · cy melltithio (to place a curse upon) · is bölva (to utter a vulgar curse) · fr jurer (to use offensive language) · ru наводи́ть по́рчу (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · mr शिव्या देणे (to use offensive language) · tg дашном додан (to use offensive language) · grc ὄνομαι (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · bg псу́вам (to utter a vulgar curse) · be кля́сці (to place a curse upon) · ro blestema (to place a curse upon) · cs nadávat (to utter a vulgar curse) · rup blastim (to place a curse upon) · mi kangakanga (to utter a vulgar curse) · fi kiroilla (to utter a vulgar curse) · xag 𐕣𐔴𐕔𐔴𐔼𐕅𐔴𐕔𐔴𐕚𐕒𐕡𐕎 (to place a curse upon) · cmn 咒罵 /咒骂 (to use offensive language) · be пракліна́ць (to place a curse upon) · bg псу́вам (to use offensive language) · ja 呪う (to place a curse upon) · el αναθεματίζω (to place a curse upon) · vi chửi tục (to use offensive language) · nl vloeken (to utter a vulgar curse) · sv förbanna (to place a curse upon) · sh opsòvati (to utter a vulgar curse) · got 𐌹𐌳𐍅𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to utter a vulgar curse) · nn forbanne (to place a curse upon) · sv svära (to use offensive language) · ta சபி (to place a curse upon) · rm blastemar (to utter a vulgar curse) · es maldecir (to utter a vulgar curse) · uz laʼnat oʻqimoq (to place a curse upon) · es maldecir (to bring great evil upon) · cmn 罵人 /骂人 (to use offensive language) · vi trù rủa (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · te శపించు (to place a curse upon) · ro înjura (to use offensive language) · vi rủa (to place a curse upon) · pt xingar (to use offensive language) · da bande (to use offensive language) · de verfluchen (to call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon) · ia objurgar (to use offensive language) · ru скверносло́вить (to use offensive language) · fur maludî (to place a curse upon) · zza la'net kerden (to place a curse upon) · tg лаънат кардан (to place a curse upon) · he קילל (to utter a vulgar curse)