Curse (k?rs), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cursed (k?rst) or Curst; p. pr. & vb. n. Cursing.] [AS. cursian, corsian, perh. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. korse to make the sign of the cross, Sw. korsa, fr. Dan. & Sw. kors cross, Icel kross, all these Scand. words coming fr. OF. crois, croiz, fr. L. crux cross. Cf. Cross.] 1. 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.
Ex. xxii. 28.

Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed.
Shak.

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 barbarous kings impose
Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those.
Pope.

Curse, v. i. To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear.

Then began he to curse and to swear.
Matt. xxi. 74.

His spirits hear me,
And yet I need must curse.
Shak.

Curse, n. [AS. curs. See Curse, v. t.] 1. An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction.

Lady, you know no rules of charity,
Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses.
Shak.

2. Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion; subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation.

The priest shall write these curses in a book.
Num. v. 23.

Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
Old Proverb.

3. The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment.

The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance.
Shak.

All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget,
Is propagated curse.
Milton.

Syn. -- Malediction; imprecation; execration. See Malediction.

• A supernatural detriment, or hinderance.
  
• A vulgar epithet.
  
• To make someone or something cursed, to confer a curse upon something.
  
• To speak or shout a vulgar curse (epithet.)