Noun I heard him utter a curse before the microphone was shut off. The witch pronounced a curse in some strange language. People believe that someone put a curse on the house. His fame turned out to be a curse, not a blessing. Verb He cursed himself for being so careless. She cursed her bad luck. In the book the evil witch curses the villagers. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Even our dear Hunter Schafer was not immune to the Euphoria curse. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 The graphic novel series chronicles the journey of a teenage girl, Iyanu, who is tasked with uncovering the story behind her powers and saving her people from an ancient curse that threatens to destroy all of humanity. Kevin L. Clark, Essence, 1 Sep. 2022 And what is the difference between a curse and a blessing?oregonlive, 31 Aug. 2022 Some TikTok users blamed the curse on astrology, joking that the alignment of the planets catalyzed so many public breakups. Morgan Sung, NBC News, 19 Aug. 2022 The President considers alcoholism a kind of family curse. Adam Entous, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 As a result of the streak of adversity, Willie Jack is convinced that there’s a curse afoot and blames herself; Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) is feeling betrayed; and Cheese (Lane Factor)? Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Aug. 2022 In the second episode, Willie Jack and Cheese turn to Uncle Brownie (Gary Farmer), an elder who dispenses advice and decades-old weed, for help in lifting a curse. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 Fame is a blessing and an occasional curse for McDonald’s. Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 27 July 2022
Verb
Mike proceeds to curse him out, before the journalist cuts the conversation short. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2022 One of the females began to yell and curse at salon staff and officers and, when told to stand in one spot, refused to do so.cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022 That behavior was induced by Balaam, the heathen prophet hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Jews. Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2022 One of the things that interviewees often ask is if they're allowed to curse and if they're allowed to cry during their talks. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 Researchers have found that doctors who curse in front of patients are seen as less trustworthy and less expert than those who don’t. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 9 June 2022 At the same time, records show some practitioners had darker motives: to curse, inflict illness, possess others, cause impotence, extinguish love or kill. Valerie Kivelson, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 June 2022 There are also tons of new characters who don't even know about the Upside Down's existence — let alone its chilling complexities that continuously curse Hawkins. Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 26 May 2022 Get out and enjoy the spring blossoms, and try not to curse the pollen too much.Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English curs, going back to Old English, of uncertain origin
Verb
Middle English cursen, going back to Old English cursian, probably derivative of curscurse entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1