What does curse mean?
A curse is fundamentally a spoken invocation of harm — a solemn wish that misfortune fall upon a person, place, or object, often attributed to supernatural power. Over time the word has broadened: it now also names any persistent source of misery or affliction (as in 'the curse of poverty'), as well as an offensive or profane word used in anger. As a verb, to curse is to call down evil upon something or to swear using bad language. Curses feature prominently in folklore, religion, and literature, from biblical imprecations to fairy-tale spells and modern horror films, which gives the word a strong dramatic and often ominous connotation. Its everyday register varies widely: invoking a curse sounds archaic or theatrical, while cursing in the profane sense is common but potentially rude. The word's flexibility — spanning the sacred, the superstitious, and the simply rude — makes it a rich and frequently encountered term in both speech and writing.
A solemn utterance intended to invoke harm or misfortune upon someone or something.
"According to legend, a witch laid a curse on the castle centuries ago."
A cause of persistent or serious harm, trouble, or misfortune.
"Unemployment remained a curse on the region for decades."
An offensive or profane word or phrase; a swear word.
"The film contained more curses than dialogue."
This sense is informal and may be considered vulgar in polite company.
To invoke evil or misfortune upon someone or something.
"She cursed her enemies in a moment of fury."
Standard pluralization applies. The plural is common in phrases like 'ancient curses' or 'curses and blessings'.
"Medieval manuscripts are full of curses aimed at book thieves."
Ancient Egyptians wrote curses into tomb walls so vividly that archaeologists still debate whether 'the mummy's curse' killed Lord Carnarvon — or whether fear did.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of curse
The English word 'curse' derives from Old English 'curs', likely influenced by Old French 'curse', and is related to Latin 'currere' meaning 'to run' — the underlying idea being that a curse 'runs' swiftly toward its target. The word has cognates across Germanic languages and shares deeper roots with words like 'course', 'current', and 'cursive'. Its religious sense of a divine imprecation was well established by the medieval period, and the profane sense developed later in Middle English.
Related word forms
How curse is actually used
In modern usage, 'curse' often appears in figurative senses ('the curse of unemployment', 'blessed with talent, cursed with fame'). The profanity sense is informal and can be considered vulgar in polite contexts. In formal or literary registers it usually retains its older meaning of a solemn imprecation.
Easily confused with curse
Cursive refers to a flowing style of handwriting, while curse is an invocation of harm or a swear word — they share only distant linguistic roots.