[-ING1.]
1. The utterance of words that consign to spiritual and temporal evil, the vengeance of the deity, the malign influence of fate, etc.; malediction, imprecation, damning.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xx. 47. Ðas onfoæð cursung mara [Rushw. Ðæt mara vel mast cursunge; Vulg. damnationem majorem].
1388. Wyclif, Dan. ix. 11. And cursyng, and wlatyng which is writun in the book of Moises … droppide on vs.
1535. Coverdale, Mal. iv. 6. That I come not, and smyte the earth with cursynge.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 32. The malesonis waryingis or cursingis quhilk God … schoris to the transgressouris.
† b. concr. The condition or place of damnation or perdition; hell. Obs.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. v. 29. Ðon all lichoma ðin ʓesendad beð in tintergo vel in cursung. Ibid., x. 28.
2. The formal pronunciation of an ecclesiastical curse or anathema; excommunication.
c. 1120[?]. Charter Pope Agatho (dated 680), in Cod. Dipl., V. 30. Hwa swa hit breket ealre biscope cursunge and eal cristene folces he hafe. Amen.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 11. No bissop ne mai him chastien ne mid forbode, ne mid scrifte, ne mid cursinge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29482 (Cott.). Cursing twa-fald es, þe tan es mare, þe toþer lesse.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 130. Whan Thomas it wist, he did mak a cursyng. Roger he cursed first, þat corouned þe ȝong kyng.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. iii. That they shold to london come by Cristmas vpon payne of cursynge.
1530. Palsgr., 211. Cursyog … excommunication.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 35. Forbidden upon paine of curssing.
1872. Ellacombe, Ch. Bells Devon, vii. 139. Early in the twelfth century … William of Winchester, by the authority of Celestine II. … brought in the use of cursing with bell, book, and candle.
3. Imprecation of evil; the profane use of imprecations in hatred or evil temper; blasphemy.
c. 1050. Spelman’s Psalms cviii. 16 (C. MS.). & he lufode wyrʓednysse [C. cursunge] & heo cume him, & he nolde bletsunga & heo bið afyrsad from him.
a. 1240. Lofsong, in Cott. Hom., 205. Wreððe … cursunge, bac bitunge.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9116. Þy cursyng now sene hyt ys Wyþ veniaunce on þy owne flesshe.
1611. Bible, Ps. lix. 12. For cursing and lying which they speake.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Life (1886), 215. He had heard that the King was much given to cursing.
1736. Berkeley, Disc., Wks. III. 427. It is no common blasphemy … it is not simple cursing and swearing.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Wks. I. 343. He will indulge himself with a little cursing and swearing.
