Accursed

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈkɜː.sɪd/

Definitions

1. Subject to a curse or believed to be doomed by supernatural forces ; regarded with intense dislike or deserving of harsh criticism
2. Cursed or doomed, often by supernatural means ; considered hateful or detestable because of unpleasant qualities
3. Marked by a supernatural curse or destined for misfortune ; viewed as objectionable or morally reprehensible

Etymology: "Accursed" is a past participle in form: it began as the past participle of the Old English verb "ācursian," meaning to curse or to pronounce a curse upon someone. The verb was built from the prefix "ā-," which intensified the action, and "cursian," itself derived from the noun "curs," meaning curse. So the adjective literally describes someone or something that has been cursed, placed under a formal pronouncement of divine or magical damnation. The word reached English in its Middle English form "acursed," and it was in use by the 13th century. From the start it carried that sense of being judged or doomed, and its grammatical role as a participle gradually settled into the adjective we use now. Over the centuries the sense of "under evil spell" grew naturally out of this idea of a curse having been laid on a person or thing, so a house, a jewel, or a family could all be described as accursed.

Synonyms: cursed, damned

Antonyms: blessed, favored