accursed

Alternative forms

• (obsolete) accurst [13^th C.]

Etymology

• First attested in the early 13th century.
• From Middle English acursed, from acursen (“to curse”), from Old English ācursian, from ā + cursen, from curs (“curse”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˈkɜː.sɪd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈkɝ.sɪd/

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Adjective

accursed (comparative more accursed, superlative most accursed)

1. (prenominal) Hateful; detestable.
   • ca. 1789, William Blake, "Tiriel",

     Accursed race of Tiriel. behold your father // Come forth & look on her that bore you. come you accursed sons.

   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 35,

     Lo! they are charged with studying the accursed cabalistical secrets of the Jews, and the magic of the Paynim Saracens.

2. (archaic, theology) Doomed to destruction or misery; cursed; anathematized.
   • 1885, Charles Abel Heurtley (translator), The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, Chapter 8,

     […] —if any one, be he who he may, attempt to alter the faith once for all delivered, let him be accursed.

   • 1912, Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Constance Garnett, The Brothers Karamazov, Book III, Chapter 7,

     For at the very moment I become accursed, at that same highest moment, I become exactly like a heathen […]

   • 1955, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, Book V, Chapter 10

     We did not come here to waste words in treating with Sauron, faithless and accursed; still less with one of his slaves. Begone!

Verb

accursed

1. simple past tense and past participle of accurse

Anagrams

• cardecus, cue cards