curses

curse  (kûrs)

n.

1.

a. An appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something.

b. The evil or misfortune that comes in or as if in response to such an appeal: bewailed the curse of ill health.

2. One that is accursed.

3. A source or cause of evil; a scourge: "Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race" (William Ewart Gladstone).

4. A profane word or phrase; a swearword.

5. Ecclesiastical A censure, ban, or anathema.

6. Slang Menstruation. Used with the.

v. cursed or curst (kûrst), curs·ing, curs·es

v.tr.

1. To invoke evil or misfortune upon; damn.

2. To swear at.

3. To bring evil upon; afflict: was cursed with crippling arthritis.

4. Ecclesiastical To put under a ban or an anathema; excommunicate.

v.intr.

To utter curses; swear.

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[Middle English, from Old English curs.]

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curser n.

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curses [ˈkɜːsɪz]

interj

Often facetious an expression of disappointment or dismay