Library / English Dictionary

CURSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: curst   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

Example:

expletives were deleted

Synonyms:

curse; curse word; cuss; expletive; oath; swearing; swearword

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("curse" is a kind of...):

profanity (vulgar or irreverent speech or action)

Derivation:

curse (utter obscenities or profanities)

curse (heap obscenities upon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An evil spell

Example:

he put the whammy on me

Synonyms:

curse; hex; jinx; whammy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("curse" is a kind of...):

charm; magic spell; magical spell; spell (a verbal formula believed to have magical force)

Derivation:

curse (wish harm upon; invoke evil upon)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group

Synonyms:

condemnation; curse; execration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("curse" is a kind of...):

denouncement; denunciation (a public act of denouncing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "curse"):

anathema (a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication)

imprecation; malediction (the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult))

Derivation:

curse (wish harm upon; invoke evil upon)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A severe affliction

Synonyms:

curse; torment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("curse" is a kind of...):

affliction (a cause of great suffering and distress)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Something causing misery or death

Example:

the bane of my life

Synonyms:

bane; curse; nemesis; scourge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("curse" is a kind of...):

affliction (a cause of great suffering and distress)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Utter obscenities or profanities

Example:

The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street

Synonyms:

blaspheme; curse; cuss; imprecate; swear

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "curse" is one way to...):

express; give tongue to; utter; verbalise; verbalize (articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise)

Verb group:

blaspheme (speak of in an irreverent or impious manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

curse (profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wish harm upon; invoke evil upon

Example:

The bad witch cursed the child

Synonyms:

anathemise; anathemize; bedamn; beshrew; curse; damn; imprecate; maledict

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "curse" is one way to...):

arouse; bring up; call down; call forth; conjure; conjure up; evoke; invoke; put forward; raise; stir (summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

bless (give a benediction to)

Derivation:

curse (an evil spell)

curse (an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Heap obscenities upon

Example:

The taxi driver who felt he didn't get a high enough tip cursed the passenger

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "curse" is one way to...):

abuse; blackguard; clapperclaw; shout (use foul or abusive language towards)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to curse the prisoners

Derivation:

curse (profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Exclude from a church or a religious community

Example:

The gay priest was excommunicated when he married his partner

Synonyms:

curse; excommunicate; unchurch

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "curse" is one way to...):

exclude; keep out; shut; shut out (prevent from entering; shut out)

Verb group:

excommunicate (oust or exclude from a group or membership by decree)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Credits

 Context examples: 

During that time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the last generation.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You cursed fools, you are trapped, every one of you!

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This is a cursed shabby trick!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

There is ever some cursed sheepskin in their strong boxes to prove that the rich man should be richer and the poor man poorer.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Lord Cochrane seemed to be expressing the views of all, for a murmur of assent, with a mutter of hearty, deep-sea curses, ran round the circle.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But he broke in cursing the doctor, in a feeble voice but heartily.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I, in my stiff- necked rebellion, almost cursed the dispensation: instead of bending to the decree, I defied it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He counted them with care, and then joined his partner in cursing the power of the Wild that had robbed them of another dog.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He did not playfully shake him, as was his wont, or murmur soft love curses; but he whispered in his ear.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Holmes continued his swift investigation of documents while his prisoner cursed and swore.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)