Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CURSE, v.t. [pret. and pp. cursed or curse. Sax. cursian, corsian; Ann. argarzi. Qu. Ar. كَرَظَ karatha.]

1. To utter a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate. Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people. – Ex. xxii. Bless, and curse not. – Rom. xii. Curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. – Numb. xxii.
2. To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, harass or torment with great calamities. On impious realms and barbarous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those. – Pope.
3. To devote to evil.