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Curse

Curse

Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary | 1986 | Copyright

149. Curse

  1. Ancient Mariner cursed by the crew because his slaying of the albatross is causing their deaths. [Br. Poetry: Coleridge The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ]
  2. Andvari king of the dwarfs; his malediction spurs many events in the Nibelungenlied. [Norse Myth.: Bulfinch]
  3. Atreus, house of cursed by Thyestes, whose children Atreus had served to him in a stew. [Gk. Legend: Benét, 61]
  4. Cain cursed by God for murdering Abel. [O. T.: Genesis 4:11]
  5. Eriphyle dying at the hand of her son Alcmaeon, she curses any land that would shelter him. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 20]
  6. Family Reunion, The the Eumenides haunt a decaying English family because the head of the house had plotted to kill his pregnant wife. [Br. Drama: Magill II, 321]
  7. Flying Dutchman sea captain condemned to sail unceasingly because he had invoked the Devil’s aid in a storm. [Maritime legend: Brewer Dictionary ]
  8. Harmonia’s necklace brought disaster to all who possessed it. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 442]
  9. Maule, Matthew about to be executed as a wizard, laid a bloody doom on the Pyncheons. [Am. Lit.: Hawthorne The House of the Seven Gables ]
  10. Melmoth the Wanderer doomed by a curse to roam the earth for 150 years after his death. [Br. Lit.: Melmoth the Wanderer ]
  11. moonstone wrested by an English officer from Buddhist priests, who place a curse on all who possess it. [Br. Lit.: Collins The Moonstone in Benét, 683]
  12. Murgatroyd, Sir Rupert he and all future lords of Ruddigore are doomed by a witch to commit a crime a day forever. [Br. Opera: Gilbert and Sullivan Ruddigore ]
  13. Thyestes cursed the house of Atreus, who had served him his sons in a stew. [Gk. Myth. & Drama: “Atreus,” Benét, 61]
  14. Tutankhamen’s tomb its opening supposed to have brought a curse upon its excavators, some of whom died soon after. [Pop. Cult.: Misc.]
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"Curse." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Curse." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505500158.html

"Curse." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505500158.html

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curse

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

curse / kərs/ • n. 1. a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something: she'd put a curse on him. ∎  [usu. in sing.] a cause of harm or misery: impatience is the curse of our day and age. ∎  (the curse) inf. menstruation. 2. an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance. • v. 1. [tr.] invoke or use a curse against. ∎  (be cursed with) be afflicted with: many owners have been cursed with a series of bankruptcies. 2. [intr.] utter offensive words in anger or annoyance. ∎  [tr.] address with such words. DERIVATIVES: curs·er n.

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curse

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

curse curse of Scotland a name given to the nine of diamonds in a pack of cards, perhaps because it resembled the armorial bearings of Lord Stair, nine lozenges on a saltire, the number and shape of the spots being identical, and their arrangement similar. The first Earl of Stair was the object of much execration for his share in sanctioning the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, and subsequently for the influential part played by him in bringing about the Union with England in 1707.
curses, like chickens, come home to roost ill will directed at another is likely to rebound on the originator. The saying, which is recorded from the late 14th century, is also found elliptically, without specific mention of curses.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "curse." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "curse." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-curse.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "curse." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-curse.html

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curse

The Oxford Companion to the Body | 2001 | | Copyright

curse A term sometimes used colloquially for the menstrual period. It has been in use for centuries, because menstruating women were believed to produce many horrifying effects. They were considered unclean, unfit for coitus and capable of spoiling food, drink, and crops. Early Hebrews, for example, punished women who had intercourse during menstruation and in medieval times menstruating women were prevented from going to church or even entering a wine cellar in case they spoiled the wine!

Saffron A. Whitehead


See menstruation.
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COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "curse." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "curse." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-curse.html

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "curse." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-curse.html

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curse

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

curse utterance consigning an object to evil; formal ecclesiastical censure OE.; evil inflicted by supernatural power XVI. Late OE. curs, of unkn. orig.; it has been referred to OIr. cūrsagim I censure. chastise.
Hence curse vb.; late OE. cursian.
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T. F. HOAD. "curse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "curse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-curse.html

T. F. HOAD. "curse." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-curse.html

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Curse

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms | 1985 | Copyright

Curse

of painters: painters collectively, 1486; a curse of creditors—Lipton, 1970.
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curse

A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology | 2004 | | Copyright

curse. Macha put a curse upon the Ulstermen known as [ces] noínden. See also GEIS.
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "curse." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES MacKILLOP. "curse." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-curse.html

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curse

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

curse •amerce, asperse, averse, burse, coerce, converse, curse, diverse, Erse, hearse, immerse, intersperse, nurse, perse, perverse, purse, reimburse, submerse, terce, terse, transverse, verse, worse •commerce • wet nurse • sesterce •adverse • universe • obverse

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

An Oath, Its Curse and Anointing Ritual
Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 4/1/2004
An oath, its curse and anointing ritual.
Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 4/1/2004
The mummy's curse!(Tutankhamun's tomb)
Magazine article from: Skeptic (Altadena, CA); 1/1/2004

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