v. Obs. or arch. Forms: 2–5 acurse, 2–4 acorse, acorsy, 5– accurse. Pa. pple. accursed, also 6–8 accurst. [f. A- pref. + OE. cursian to CURSE. As a-curse is not found before the 12th c., the prefix does not here represent an older ar- or an-, but is imitated from the a- into which both of these had then sunk, and was apparently intensive, as in wake, a-wake, rise, a-rise. In 5, when the scribes latinized the Fr. prefix a- before c to ac-, they servilely did the same with a-curse, whence the false spelling ac-curse.] To pronounce or imprecate a curse upon, to anathematize; to devote to perdition, evil or misery.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 31. Þene preost he mot isechen þe hine acursede · þet he hine iblecie onȝein þet he hine acursede.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1701 (Cott. MS.). Ȝe schule on oþer wise singe And acursi alle fiȝtinge [Arch. MS. cursi].
1297. R. Glouc., 474. He acorsede all thulke men, that he hadde uorth ibrouȝt. Ibid., 296. Hii myȝte acorsy þe fole quene, þat Seynt Edward slou.
a. 1320. Guy Warw. (Turnb.), 6. He acursed the time that hir say [= saw].
c. 1360. Wyclif, De Dot. Eccl., 55. Popis … confermen and acursen men whanne hem likiþ and myslikiþ men.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 99. Lest crist in cons[is]torie · acorse ful manye.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 361. She had also purchased a curse of the pope, to a curse all ye said barons.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 1557, 710/1. Or Noe hys owne sonnes one ye wot wel was so bad, that hys owne father accursed him.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Great Exemp., III. xiv. 50. God can accurse the soul as well as punish the body.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 175. Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed Above all cattle.
1868. Milman, St. Paul’s, iii. 70. He had been Dean of St. Paul’s, and in that office accursed at Paul’s Cross all who had searched.
