accurse

transitive verb

ac·​curse

ə-ˈkərs

accursed; accursed ə-ˈkərst 

-ˈkər-səd;

-ˈkər-səd usually when a stressed syllable follows without pause

or accurst

ə-ˈkərst

; accursing; accurses

: to consign to destruction, misery, or evil by a curse : anathematize

—now used chiefly as past participle

looked upon her as a thing accursed

—Charles Kingsley

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acursen, going back to Old English acursian, from a-, perfective prefix + cursian "to curse entry 2"

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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