In prophetic or denunciatory utterances of the type of Old English wā biþ þǣm mannum ‘affliction or grief shall be the lot of the men’ (cf. quot…

without have [so Old French dehait, dahait]: A curse upon!

In curses or imprecations, used in the imperative 3rd person singular as an equivalent or substitute for ‘bring to perdition’. Since 1700 considered…

foul (also shame) fall —— and variants: may ill fortune, disgrace, etc., befall (someone or something). Chiefly Scottish after Middle English. Now ar…

As a term of imprecation used in various colloquial phrases. In later use chiefly Scottish, Irish English… sorrow on——: used as an imprecation…

In the phrase in the waniand, probably with ellipsis of mone (cf. ‘on wanigendum monan’ Sax. Leechd. I. 320) = at the time of the waning moon, i.e…

In imprecations (in sense 3 or 4). Obsolete.

evil theedom, ill success, bad luck: used as a maledictory phrase.

As a curse, in various phrases. a pestilence on (also upon): may a plague come upon (a person or thing); cf. pest, n. 1b, devil, n. phrases 1b(a), p…

woe betide you (also him, her,etc.): (originally) may evil or misfortune happen to you (him, etc.); (in later use colloquial with weakened sense)…

As a curse: ‘May he have misfortune!’.

Now somewhat archaic. In imprecations invoking pestilence or misfortune upon a person or thing, as murrain on (also of, meet) them (also him, it,etc.)…

out on (also upon): curses upon, damnation to. Cf. fie, int. Now rare. Perhaps Obsolete.

in the wild waning world: perversion of in the wild waniand: see waniand, n., wanion, n., and cf. quot. 1435 at waning, n. 2b.

In imprecations, usually with on. Also rarely without article. Obsolete or archaic.

Used in certain formulas of asseveration or imprecation. in a wanion, later with a wanion, with a plague, with a vengeance. Also with a wild wanion.

Used in certain formulas of asseveration or imprecation. in a wanion, later with a wanion, with a plague, with a vengeance. Also with a wild wanion.

woe worth: (as interjection) = woe, int. Obsolete (archaic after 17th cent.).

In various imprecations or exclamations, as a plague take——, a plague on——; what the plague——, etc.

Used in certain formulas of asseveration or imprecation. a (wild) wanion on, with a wanion to, may a curse or plague light on (a person, etc.)!

with a wanyand: cf. wanion, n.

In various imprecations or exclamations of irritation and impatience; frequently in a bots on ——. Cf. pox, n. 2a. Obsolete.

Used by Spenser for: a curse upon—! Obsolete.

In various imprecations or exclamations of irritation and impatience, as a pox on (also†of,†take), †O pox, etc. Cf plague, n. 5. Now archaic.

In asseverative phrases, oaths, and exclamations, as death and damnation.

transitive. In imprecations or expressions of irritation or impatience, chiefly in optative subjunctive. See also od rot it (me, them, etc.) at od…

In the imprecation rot on (also rot upon). Cf. rot, v. 6. Now rare.

An imprecation. (Cf. plague! pest!)

= pox, n. 3. Usually with on.

Used in various exclamatory or imprecatory expressions, as pize on (also upon); pize take, pize light upon; out a pize, what a pize. Cf. pox, n. 2…

(Cf. vild, adj., but perhaps an error.)

In mock imprecations. Obsolete.

As an exclamation or imprecation.

as an imprecation or exclamation. (Cf. confound, v. 2a.)

Used in imprecations and expressions of irritation or impatience. Cf. damnation, n. 3, hell, n. int.phrases 3. Now archaic.

As a curse. (a) pest on (also (a) pest upon, (a) pest take): may a plague light upon. Now rare.

Bad luck, plague, mischief; in imprecations and exclamations, as a deuce on him!, a deuce of his cane!

transitive. = stop, v., in the phrase stap my vitals, used as an exclamation of surprise, anger, etc., or as an asseveration.

Colloquially used in jocular forms of imprecation, as strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—), and various nonce-phrases. strike me pink! (slang): an…

stop my vitals (see stap, n.).

In various phrases. split me (or my windpipe), used as an imprecation.

transitive. Used as a mild expletive: = drat, int.

transitive. Used in optative subjunctive to express annoyance, hatred, dismissal, etc. Cf. damn, v. 6. In later use English regional. Now rare.

transferred. To ‘score off’ (a person) heavily. Also as an imprecation capot me!

colloquial and slang. transitive. To catch, take unawares; to apprehend. Now: spec. (of the police) to arrest, take into custody (slang).

Scottish in certain phrases, perhaps influenced by wary, v., to curse: weary fa' (fall), weary on, weary set (a person or thing), a curse on (him…

Expressing frustration, disappointment, or annoyance; ‘drat’, ‘blast’; (also) expressing incredulity or disagreement; ‘rubbish’, ‘nonsense’.

In phrase bad cess to = ‘bad luck to, evil befall’.

Used in plural as an imprecation, expressing irritation or frustration; esp. (histrionically or as a stage-aside) curses, foiled again!

As an expletive (also adv.): ‘Confounded’, ‘cursed’.

Expressing anger, annoyance, or frustration. Cf. damnation, n. 3.