curse

 
Pronunciation: /kəːs/

noun

  • 1a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something: she’d put a curse on him
  • [usually in singular] a cause of harm or misery: impatience is the curse of our day and age
  • 2an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance: at every blow there was a curse
  • 3 (the curse) informal menstruation.

verb

  • 1 [with object] invoke or use a curse against: it often seemed as if the family had been cursed
  • (be cursed with) be afflicted with: many owners have been cursed with a series of bankruptcies
  • 2 [no object] utter offensive words in anger or annoyance: he cursed loudly as he burned his hand
  • [with object] address with offensive words: I cursed myself for my carelessness

Derivatives

curser

noun

Origin:

Old English, of unknown origin