Curse Meaning
/kɜːs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.
nounA prayer or imprecation that harm may befall someone.
Sentence Examples
Nor was he ever known to curse unless against the government.
The family seemed to be under a curse.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old legend says a witch placed a ____ on the treasure.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Nor was he ever known to ____ unless against the government.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English curse, kors, cors, curs, from Old English cors, curs (“curse”), of unknown origin.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"If ye will not heare, and if yee will not lay it to heart, to giue glory vnto my name, saith the Lord of hostes; I will euen send a curse vpon you, and will curse your blessings: yea, I haue cursed them already, because yee doe not lay it to heart."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Malachi 2:2:
"Oh Portius, is there not some choſen Curſe,
Some hidden Thunder in the Stores of Heav’n,
Red with uncommon Wrath, to blaſt the Man
Who owes his Greatneſs to his Country’s Ruin?"
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
"“The farm's had a lot of bad luck, you see. Dad thinks there is a curse on the place.” “Most like. Most like,” said Catweazle, gobbling the banana."
— 1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 50:
"The common curſe of mankinde, Folly and Ignorance[…]"
— c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
"Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself."
— 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the profound meets the profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old legend says a witch placed a ____ on the treasure.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Nor was he ever known to ____ unless against the government.