Middle English Dictionary Entry
cursing ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | cursing ger. Also cursung (OE). |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The uttering or imposing of a malediction; invoking or imprecation of divine vengeance; also, a malediction.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3926 : Balaac king..sente after balaam ðe prest..And bad him cumen for to don fol[c] of ysrael his cursing on.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)164b/a : Þis was the hille of cursyng and of praiers.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)166a/a : Blissynges and cursynges were ycried and shewede to þe peple.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)11954 : Þei seide, 'ȝoure son [Jesus], wantoun & wilde, with his cursyng haþ slayn oure childe.'
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)362 : Þus cursing is to drede, for cursing of God for oure synnes.
2a.
(a) Formal pronouncement of an ecclesiastical curse; excommunication, anathematization, interdiction; a sentence of excommunication; the gret (more) ~, major excommunication; (b) the state of being under excommunication; the state of mortal sin.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.675 : Hwa swa hit breket, ealre biscope cursunge and eal Cristene foces he hafe. Amen.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)11 : No bissop ne mai him chastien, ne mid forbode, ne mid scrifte, ne mid cursinge.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.151 : Gregorie..wiþ þe sentence of cursynge..cutte þaym fro þe body of holy chirche.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.660 : Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man him drede; For curs wol slee, right as assoillyng sauith.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2979 : This Pope..Hath sent the bulle of his sentence With cursinge and with enterdit.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1587 : Vp peyne of cursyng looke that thow be To morn bifore the erchedeknes knee.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29482 : Cursing thre-fald es, þe tan es mare, þe toþer lesse.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.130 : Whan Thomas it wist, he did mak a cursyng; Roger he cursed first, þat corouned þe ȝong kyng.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)361 : Censures þat þe fend blowiþ, as ben suspendingis, enterditingis, cursingis, and reisingis of croiserie.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)4b : Anatema: corsinge.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick252 : We enioyne yowe, prioresse..vndere payne of the grete cursyng, that ye [etc.].
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)30/4 : All they [bishops] with on assent..decreyd the sentens of cursynge to all hem that..maliciously take a-wey..eny of the seyd yftys.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)117/28 : As for cursing and assoiling which preestis doon to her suggettis or parischens.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)185/34 : This legate..denunced al the Pepill of Irland on the Payne of cursynge.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6550 : Y warne þe..To comone with any þat cursyng has, þat..were cursed with holy cherches cry.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)29492 : Þe toþer cursing all men es in þat liggand es in dedli sin.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)6/16 : Saue me, þou lord god, for watrys of cursynges haue entryd my soule!
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)9/7 : In þis cursyng, who-so deye vnrepentaunt, schal haue a dredeful ende!
- a1475 Form Excom.(2) (Rwl B.408)2/7 : Þei falle aȝen in þe cursyng þat þei were in before.
2b.
Exclusion, as a disciplinary measure, of one member of a Benedictine house from association with the other members.
Associated quotations
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)21/4 : Yef sho wyl not yet amende, sho sal be cursyd; yef sho..mas na force of þe cursing, sho sal be berid ful wel, and do it a-mende it sua.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)31/2 : In þis sentence kennis sain Benet vs what amendement þai sal do þat es in cursing, þat es don owte of þe kirke for greue faute and owte of þe fraitur.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1908 : Who so trispas in þis þing, Þai ryn in peryl of cursyng.
3.
Blasphemy, profanity, or an instance of it.
Associated quotations
- a1250 Lofsong Lefdi (Nero A.14)205 : Me habbeð sore iwunded, ase wreððe, and onde..cursunge, bac-bitunge and fikelunge.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)27/36 : Þe mouþ of þe enuious is uol of corsinge and of biterhede an of bezuykynge.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Rom.3.14 : The mouth of whom is ful of cursyng [L maledictione], or wariyng, and bitternesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.206 : Euere the moore flesshly kynredes that ben in helle, the moore cursynges, the moore chidynges, and the moore deedly hate ther is among hem.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.619 : Speke we now of swich cursynge as comth of irous herte.
4.
Evil inflicted in response to a curse or as retributive punishment; an affliction, a curse; abomination, wickedness.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4038 : Quuo-so wile cursing maken, Ille cursing sal him taken.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Bar.1.20 : Ther cleueden to vs many euelis, and cursingus, the whiche the Lord sette to his seruaunt Moises.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1300 : Kursyng shal come on hem alle.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9141 : Þere þe cursyng fyrst bygan, Yn þat place a-boute þey ran.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deut.28.15 : If thou nylt here the vois of thi Lord God..alle these cursyngis [WB(1): malysouns; L maledictiones] schulen come on thee.
- a1450 Body & S.(5) (Dgb 102)p.75 : Now is þe cursyng on þe liȝt, Wreche, þere i se þe lye.