transitive and intransitive. In profane use: ‘confound’; = damn, v. 6.

A form of imprecation, giving vent to annoyance or angry vexation; = ‘Hang’, ‘dash’, ‘confound’.

transitive. colloquial and regional (chiefly North American in later use). Used as a euphemism for ‘damn’ in mild imprecations, asseverations…

In imprecations (occasionally with the): = damnation, n. 3. how (also what, where) in the nation: ‘how (or what, where) on earth’ (see earth, n.1…