curse
curse
Pronunciation
curse: /kɜːrs/
curse:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/ɜː/ - open-mid central unrounded vowel (long)
/rs/ - alveolar approximant followed by a voiceless alveolar sibilant
Word Form Variations
Noun: curse (singular), curses (plural)
Verb: curse (base form, present tense except third person singular), curses (third person singular present tense), cursed (past tense, past participle), cursing (present participle)
Adjective: cursed (can be used as an adjective, though it's the past participle of the verb)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A fervent wish or prayer for evil, harm, or misfortune to befall someone or something.
Synonyms: malediction, anathema, imprecation, jinx
Antonyms: blessing, benediction, boon, good fortune
Example: The old woman muttered a terrible curse upon her betrayer.
A cause of great trouble, suffering, or unhappiness.
Synonyms: affliction, bane, plague, burden, scourge
Antonyms: blessing, boon, advantage, benefit, gift
Example: The constant rain was a curse on their outdoor plans.
An offensive or profane word or phrase, often used to express anger or frustration.
Synonyms: expletive, oath, swear word, profanity, obscenity
Antonyms: compliment, praise, blessing, polite language
Example: He let out a string of curses when he hit his thumb with the hammer.
Verb
To utter a fervent wish or prayer for evil, harm, or misfortune to befall someone or something.
Synonyms: damn, execrate, imprecate, hex, jinx
Antonyms: bless, invoke blessings, praise, commend
Example: She cursed the day she ever met him.
To bring great trouble, suffering, or unhappiness upon someone or something.
Synonyms: afflict, plague, torment, doom, blight
Antonyms: bless, benefit, favor, alleviate, relieve
Example: The drought cursed the land, leading to widespread famine.
To use offensive or profane words, especially when angry or frustrated.
Synonyms: swear, cuss, blaspheme, utter expletives, use foul language
Antonyms: praise, compliment, speak politely, refrain from swearing
Example: He cursed loudly when he realized he had lost his keys.
Adjective
Affected by a curse; subject to evil or misfortune. (Often used as the past participle of the verb "to curse")
Synonyms: accursed, damned, ill-fated, doomed, jinxed
Antonyms: blessed, fortunate, lucky, favored, charmed
Example: The cursed treasure brought nothing but misery to its owners.
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt a great weight lift from him, as if a long-standing curse had finally been broken." (From Circe by Madeline Miller)
"The family believed they were under a curse, passed down through generations, bringing misfortune to each firstborn." (From The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead)
Newspapers:
"The persistent drought has become a curse for farmers across the region, jeopardizing their livelihoods." (The Guardian)
"Critics argue that the city's rapid gentrification is a mixed blessing, or perhaps even a curse, for its long-term residents." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Is Social Media a Blessing or a Curse for Teenagers' Mental Health?" (Psychology Today)
"The 'Resource Curse' continues to plague many developing nations rich in natural resources, hindering their economic diversification." (World Bank Blog)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the crew of the Black Pearl is under a supernatural curse, turning them into undead skeletons in moonlight. (July 2003)
Television Series: "The ancient artifact was said to carry a powerful curse, bringing madness to anyone who touched it." (From an episode of Supernatural, March 2020)
Video Game: A common mechanic in many role-playing games, like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, involves quests where players must lift a curse from a character or an area. (May 2015)
Music: "And it's a bitter curse, this yearning heart of mine." (From the lyrics of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, 1984)
General Public Discourse:
"Oh, curse this traffic! I'm going to be late." (Heard in a casual conversation)
"Some people see their shyness as a curse, but for others, it's a quiet strength." (From a public forum discussion on personality traits)
10 Quotes Using Curse
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Often attributed to Edmund Burke, though the exact wording varies, this sentiment is frequently used in discussions about societal curses)
"What a curse is it to be a slave, and how much greater is the curse of being master of slaves." (Harriet Tubman)
"The curse of me and my tribe is that we are artists. We are not allowed to be sane." (John Huston)
"Knowledge is a curse when it does not bring wisdom." (Thich Nhat Hanh)
"O curse of marriage, that we can call these delicate creatures ours, And not their appetites!" (William Shakespeare, Othello)
"He that loves not his wife and children, curse him, for he is a beast." (John Fletcher)
"Power is a curse; it is the curse that makes men into devils." (Napoleon Bonaparte)
"My only curse is to be an artist." (Georgia O'Keeffe)
"The greatest curse in life is not having what you want, but having what you want and not enjoying it." (Oscar Wilde)
"The curse of a bad temper is that it is often genetic." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "curse" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Old English.
Its earliest known form was "curs" or "cursian" in Old English, appearing around the 9th or 10th century. At its very core, the first meaning of "curse" was to wish evil upon someone or something. It was about invoking supernatural power or divine displeasure to bring harm or misfortune. Imagine someone calling upon higher powers to inflict suffering on an enemy – that's the original essence of "curse."
Over time, its meaning expanded to also include the evil or misfortune itself that was wished for, and then later, the profane language used to express anger or frustration. So, from a powerful incantation of ill will, it evolved to represent the harmful outcome, and eventually, just strong, offensive words.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Curse
A mixed blessing/curse: Something that has both good and bad consequences.
The curse of the Bambino: A famous sports superstition, referring to the alleged bad luck of the Boston Red Sox.
The curse of dimensionality: A problem encountered in data analysis when dealing with high-dimensional data.
The curse of knowledge: When someone knowledgeable finds it hard to communicate with less knowledgeable people because they assume a certain level of understanding.
The Midas touch/curse: The ability to turn everything one touches into gold (blessing) or, in the "curse" variation, the undesirable outcome of this ability where everything becomes mere gold, losing other value.
To curse someone out: To verbally abuse someone with a string of expletives.
To curse the day: To express regret about a particular event or decision.
Don't curse the darkness, light a candle: A proverb encouraging action over complaint.
A plague on both your houses! (from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet): An expression of exasperation, wishing misfortune on both opposing parties.
To heap maledictions upon someone: To utter severe curses or denunciations against them.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of curse from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
