curse

A2 Topic:People & Society

US /kɝs/ UK /kɜːs/ See IPA manual

Freq #2533

Meanings

1

noun
Magic words said to bring bad luck or harm to someone.

In the story, a witch put a curse on the prince.
2

verb
To say rude or offensive words, usually because you are angry.

He cursed loudly after hitting his thumb with the hammer.
3

verb
To use magic words to wish harm or bad luck on someone.

The old legend said the witch had cursed the entire village.
4

noun
Something that causes great trouble or harm.

For many people, traffic is the curse of city life.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · magic words said to bring... hexjinx

2 verb · to say rude or offensive... cuss swear

3 verb · to use magic words to wish... damn bewitch

4 noun · something that causes great... affliction plague

Word family

Forms cursescursingcurst

Derived forms accursebecurseblursecountercursecursablecurseecursefulcursefullycurselaxcurselesscurselikecurser

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

curse word
an offensive word used to express anger, surprise, or emphasis

Noun + noun

Proverbs (3)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English cursen, corsen, coursen, from Old English corsian, cursian (“to curse”), from the noun (see above).

cursen Middle English corsian Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# curse

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /kɝs/
**IPA (UK):** /kɜːs/
**Frequency rank:** 2533

## Meanings
1. Magic words said to bring bad luck or harm to someone.
2. To say rude or offensive words, usually because you are angry.
3. To use magic words to wish harm or bad luck on someone.
4. Something that causes great trouble or harm.

## Examples
- In the story, a witch put a curse on the prince.
- He cursed loudly after hitting his thumb with the hammer.
- The old legend said the witch had cursed the entire village.
- For many people, traffic is the curse of city life.

## Derived Forms
- accurse
- becurse
- blurse
- countercurse
- cursable
- cursee
- curseful
- cursefully
- curselax
- curseless
- curselike
- curser

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: cursen
- Root: corsian

## Etymology
From Middle English cursen, corsen, coursen, from Old English corsian, cursian (“to curse”), from the noun (see above).

## AI Etymology
curse comes from Middle English cursen, corsen, coursen, from Old English corsian, cursian (“to curse”), from the noun (see above). The historical chain includes Middle English cursen, Old English corsian. Current senses include Magic words said to bring bad luck or harm to someone and to say rude or offensive words, usually because you are angry. English relatives and later formations include accurse, becurse, blurse.

## Topics
- People & Society

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