curry-favel 
CUrry-favelt (kiir'i-la-'vclj, . |< cnrri/ J'(ir<l : 
see tliis phrase, under rwnv/'.J 1. One who 
solicits favor by officious show of kindness or 
courtesy; a flatterer. 
CmryJauM, a flatterer, estrllle. I'altgraw. 
Whcrhy all tlii' riirriitnrrl tli:it lie next of tile depntye 
la secrete counsayll (lure not lie so txililo to slluw liyni the 
greate jnpardyc anil pcrell of his sonle. 
Slate Papers, 11. 15. 
2. An idle, lazy fellow. See the extract. 
Cory faufll is ho that wyl lie in his bed, anil cory the 
bed hordes in which he lyetli In steed [ stead] ol his horee. 
This sliintliful knaiic wyll biuklll ami scratch when lie is 
culled in the morning lor any hast. 
The, XX V. Orders uf Knaues, 1575 (eil. Palmer). 
3. A certain figure of rhetoric. See the extract. 
If such moderation of words tend to flattery, or sooth- 
ing, or excusing, It is liy the figure 1'araiiiastole, which 
therfore nothing; improperly we call the Curry-fatiell, as 
when we make the best of a hud thing, or tunie a signifi- 
cation to the more plausible sencc. 
Putlenham, Arte of Eng. I'oesio, p. 154. 
curry-favort (kur'i-fa'vor), n. [< curry favor : 
see this phrase, under curry*. Cf. curry-favel.'] 
One who gains or tries to gain favor by flattery ; 
a flatterer. See curry-favel. 
currying (kur'i-ing), n. [Verbal n. of curry 1 , 
r.] 1 . The art or operation of dressing tanned 
hides so as to fit them for use as leather, by giv- 
ing them the necessary suppleness, smoothness, 
color, or luster. 2. The act of rubbing down 
a horse with a currycomb or other similar ap- 
pliance. 
We sec that the very currying of horses doth make them 
fat and in good liking. Bacon, Nat. Hist., 58. 
currying-glove (kur'i-ing-gluv), . A glove 
made of a fabric woven in part with coir, and 
having therefore a rough surface, used for cur- 
rying animals. 
curry-leaf (kur'i-lef), . The aromatic leaf of 
a rutaceous tree, Murraya Kcsnigii, of India, 
used for flavoring curries. 
curry-powder (kur'i-pou'der), w. The condi- 
ment used for making curry-sauce, composed 
of turmeric, coriander-seed, ginger, and cay- 
enne-pepper, to which salt, cloves, cardamoms, 
poumted cinnamon, onions, garlic, scraped co- 
coanut, etc., may be added. See curry*. 
curse 1 (kers), n. [< ME. curs, rarely cars, < AS. 
curs ("cars, in Benson and Lye, not authenti- 
cated), a curse ; cf. curse 1 , >. The AS. word is 
comparatively rare and late, and seems to be 
Northern. Origin unknown, possibly Scand. 
It has been supposed to be due to a particular 
use of an early form of the verb cross, make the 
sign of the cross, as in exorcism; but this verb 
appears much later than the AS. term.] 1. 
The expression of a wish of evil to another; 
an imprecation of evil ; a malediction. 
Shimei, . . . which cursed me with a grievous curse. 
1 Ki. II. 8. 
They . . . entered into a curse, and into an oath. 
Neh. x. 29. 
2. Evil which has been solemnly invoked upon 
one. 
The priest shall write these mrses in a book. Num. v. 23. 
Promising great Blessings to their Nation upon obedi- 
ence, and horrible Gurnet, such as would make ones ears 
tingle to hear them, upon their refractoriness and dis- 
obedience. StUlingjleet, Sermons, II. iv. 
3. That which brings or causes evil or severe 
affliction or trouble; a great evil; a bane; a 
scourge : the opposite of blessing : as, strong 
drink is a curse to millions. 
I ... will make this city a curse to all the nations of 
the earth. Jer. xxvi. (1. 
The common curse of mankind, folly and Ignorance. 
Shalt., 'I. andC., U. 3. 
And the curie of unpaid toil . . . 
Like a Are shall burn and spoil. 
Whiitier, Texas. 
Pessimists and optimists both start with the postulate 
that life is a blessing or a <-i<r.sv, according as the average 
consciousness accompanying it is pleasurable or painful. 
//. Spencer, Data of Ethics, 15. 
4. Condemnation ; sentence of evil or punish- 
ment. [Archaic.] 
Christ hath redeemed us from the curge of the law. 
Gal. iii. 13. 
O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven ; 
It hath the primal eldest curse upon 't, 
A brother's murder. Shak., Hamlet, iii. 3. 
Curse of Canaan, negro slavery ; hence, in a satirical 
use, ne^ro slaves collectively : in allusion to the curse 
pronounced by N'oah upon ('anaan, the son (or the de- 
scendants) of Hum (den. ix. ^V 2<i), negroes bcinu' former- 
ly regarded by many as the descendants of Talcum, and 
their slavery being justified as an accomplishment of the 
curse. 
Her thirds wnz part in cotton lands, part in the cvss of 
Caiutan. Lowell, Biglow Papers. 
1-107 
Curse of Scotland, the nine of diamonds In playing- 
caiiK: so ralli il piolialily from the resemblance of that 
card to the heraldic bearings of the Karlsof Stair, one of 
whom was detested in Scotland aft tile principal author 
(while Master of stair) of the massacre of (Ilencoe (1WW). 
oilier e\plan:iti"iis have been proposed. The curse, ill 
//"'>>/., the sentence pronounced upon Adam and Kve, and 
through them upon the human race (Uen. iii. 1U-1H), in 
consequence of the sin of Adam, and its fulfilment in the 
history of mankind. =Syn. 1. Execration, Anathema, etc. 
See malediction. 3. Scourge, plague, affliction, ruin. 
curse 1 (kers), v. ; pret. and pp. cursed (some- 
times curst), ppr. cursing. [< ME. cursien, 
cursen, corsen, curse (intr., utter oaths; trans., 
imprecate evil upon, put under ecclesiastical 
ban), < late AS. cursian ("corsian, in Benson and 
Lye, not authenticated), also in comp. forcur- 
sian (in pp. forcursed: see cursed), curse; cf. 
curs, a curse: see curse, n. Cf. accurse."] I. 
trims. 1. To wish evil to: imprecate or invoke 
evil upon; call down calamity, injury, or de- 
struction upon ; execrate in speech. 
Thou shalt not . . . curse the ruler of thy people. 
Ex. xxil. 28. 
Curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me. 
Num. xxli. 6. 
Couldst thou not curse him ? I command thee curse him ; 
Curse till the gods hear, and deliver him 
To thy just wishes. Beau, and /'/., Maid's Tragedy, iv. 1. 
Your fair land shall be rent and torn, 
Your people be of all forlorn 
And all men curse you for this thing. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, I. 367. 
Hence 2. To put under ecclesiastical ban or 
anathema; excommunicate; condemn or sen- 
tence to the disabilities of excommunication. 
About this Time, at the Suit of the Lady Katharine Dow- 
ager, a Bull was sent from the Pope, which cursed both the 
King and the Realm. Baker, Chronicles, p. 282. 
3. To bring or place a curse upon; blight or 
blast with a curse or malignant evils; vex, 
harass, or afflict with great calamities. 
On impious realms and barbarous kings impose 
Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those. 
Pope. 
Sure some fell Bend has cursed our line, 
That coward should e'er be son of minet 
Scott, L. of L. M., iv. 11. 
II. intrant. To utter imprecations ; affirm or 
deny with imprecations of divine vengeance; 
use blasphemous or profane language ; swear. 
Then began he to curse and to swear. Mat xxvi. 74. 
curse 2 (kers), n. [The same word, with sense, 
as now popularly understood, imported from 
curse* (and taken as equiv. to damn in similar 
uses), as ME. kerse, kers, carse, eresse, cress (the 
plant), often used as a symbol of valuelessness, 
'not worth a kerse (cress),' 'care not a kerse,' 
like mod. colloq. ' not worth a straw,' etc.] Lit- 
erally, a cress : in popular use identified with 
curse 1 , an imprecation, and used only as a sym- 
bol of utter worthlessness in certain negative 
expressions: as, " not worth a curse," "to care 
not a curse," etc. 
Wysdom and wit now is nat worth a carse 
Bote hit be carded with couetyse as clothcrs kemben wollc. 
Piers Plowman (C), xli. 15. 
To hasten is nought worth a kerse. 
Gower, Couf. Aniant., I. 334. 
For anger gayneg the not a cresse. 
Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), 1. 343. 
I eounte hym nat at a cres. 
Sir Dcyrevant (Thornton Romf , ed. Halliwell), 1. 191. 
cursed (ker'sed), p. a. [< ME. cursed, < AS. 
"cursed (in comp. forcursed), pp. of cursian, 
curse: see curse 1 , v. Cf. curst.} 1. Being un- 
der a curse; blasted by a curse; afflicted; 
vexed; tormented. 
Let us fly this cursed place. Milton, Comus, 1. 939. 
2. Deserving a curse ; execrable ; hateful ; de- 
testable ; abominable ; wicked. 
In that Coutree there is a cursed Custom : for thei eten 
more gladly niauues Flesche, than ouy other Flesche. 
Mandeville, Travels, p. 179. 
Merciful powers ! 
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature 
Gives way to in repose! Shak., Macbeth, ii. 1. 
3. Execrable; wretched: used as a hyperboli- 
cal expletive. 
This cursed quarrel. Dryden. 
Wounding thorns and cursed thistles. 
Prior, Solomon, iii. 
Tis a cursed thing to be in debt. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, Ix. 17. 
Sincerely I begin to wish I hail never made such a point 
of gaining so very good a character, for it has led me into 
so many eurxrd rogueries that I doubt I shall Ire exposed 
at last. Sheridan, School for Scandal, ii. 2. 
cursedly (ker'sed-li), adv. 1. As one under a 
curse ; miserably. 
O, let him die as he hath liv'd, dishonourably. 
Basely and cursedly .' 
Middleton and Rowley, Spanish Gypsy, Iii. 3. 
cursive 
2. Detestably; abominably; execrably: used 
in malediction. 
This is a nation that is cursedly afraid of being overrun 
uith too much politeness. /'/ 
cursedness (ker'sed-nes), . [< M K. I'll 1:11 iinnou; 
corsednesse ; < cursed + -ness.] 1. The state of 
being under a curse, or of being doomed to ex- 
ecration or to evil. 2f. Blasphemous, profane, 
or evil speech ; cursing. 
His mouth is full of cursednes*, 
Of fraud, deceit, and guile. 
Old metrical version of Psalm*. 
3f. Shrewishness; maliciousness; contrariness. 
My wyves cursednesse. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Merchant's Tale, I. 27. 
cursementt, n. [ME. corsement, < corsen, curse u, 
curse, + -ment.] Cursing. 
Enuye with heuy herte asked after shrifte, 
And criede " mea culpa," corsynge allc bus enemys. 
HUB clothes were of corsement and of kene wordes. 
Piers 1'lomnan (C), vll. 05. 
cursent, v. t. Another spelling of kersen, variant 
of christen. See christen. 
Nan. Do they speak as we do ? 
Madge. No, they never speak. 
Han. Are they cursened > 
Madge. No, they call them infidels ; I know not what 
they are. Beau, aiul t'l., Coxcomb, iv. 3. 
curser (ker'ser), . One who curses or utters 
a curse. 
Thy Cursers, Jacob, shall twice cursed be ; 
And he shall bless himself that blesses thee. 
CawUy, Uavideis, i. 
cursitor (ker'si-tor), . [< ML. cursitor, equiv. 
to L. cursor, a runner, < currere, run : see cur- 
sor."} 1. Formerly, in England, one of twenty- 
four officers or clerks in the Court of Chancery, 
also called clerks of the course, whose business 
it was to make out original writs, each for the 
county to which he was assigned. 
Then is the recognition and value . . . carried by the 
cursitor in Chancery for that shire where those lands do 
lie. Bacon. 
2f. A courier or runner. 
Cursitors to and fro. 
Holland, tr. of Ammlanus Marcellinus. 
Cursitor baron, an officer who administered oaths tx> 
sheriffs, bailiffs, functionaries of the customs, etc. 
Cursitorest (ker-si-to'rez), n. pi. [NL., pi. of 
ML.carsitor, a runner: see er#itor.] In Mac- 
gillivray's system of classification, an order of 
birds, the runners, exemplified by the plovers. 
cursive (ker'siv), a. and n. [= F. cursif '= Sp. 
Pg. cursivo = It. Corsica, < ML. cnrsirus, running 
(of writing), < L. cursus, a running, a course, 
< currere, run: see current 1 .'] I. a. Running; 
flowing, as writing or manuscript in which the 
letters are joined one to another, and are formed 
rapidly without raising the pen, pencil, or sty- 
lus ; specifically, in paleography, modified from 
the capital or uncial form, so as to assume a form 
analogous to that used in modern running hand: 
as, the cursive style ; cursive letters ; cursire man- 
uscripts. Greek cursive writingis found In papyri dating 
back to about 100 B.C., at first very similar to the lapidary 
and uncial characters of the same period, but gradually 
becoming more rounded in form and negligent in style. 
The epithet cursive is, however, most frequently applied to 
the later cursive or minuscule writing from the ninth cen- 
tury on. (See minuscule.) The Iwginning of a Latin cursive 
character is seen In some waxed tablets discovered in 1875 
in the house of L. Csecilius Jucuudus at Pompeii. Forms 
similar to these also occur in the dipinti and graffiti (char- 
acters painted on or incised in walls, earthenware, etc.) 
of the same place or period. The ancient Latin cursive 
character known to us in manuscripts from the fourth cen- 
tury on is, however, considerably different from this. In 
medieval manuscripts the cursive hand was employed 
from the Merovingian epoch, often in combination with 
the other contemporary styles ; but from the ninth cen- 
tury it was replaced for all careful work by the so-called 
Caroline and Gothic characters, and continued in use up 
to the Invention of printing only in degenerated form and 
for writings of small importance or hasty execution. (See 
manuscript.) 
In the earliest examples of cursive writing we find the 
uncial character in use, and, as has been already remarked, 
many of the specimens fluctuate between the more formal 
or set book-hand and the cursive. 
Kncyc. Brit., XVIII. 149. 
II. n. 1. A cursive letter or character: as, 
a manuscript written in cursives. 
The old Roman cursive, the existence and nature of 
which is thus established, is, as we shall presently see, of 
immense historical importance in explaining the origin 
of modem scripts, several of our own minuscule letters 
being actually traceable to the Pompeian forms. 
Isaac Taylor, The Alphabet, II. 169. 
2. A manuscript written in cursive characters. 
After a brief description of the Septuagint manuscripts 
which contain Ezekiel four uncials, with a fragment of 
a flfth, and twenty-five cursives. 
O. V. Moore, Andover Rev., VII. 96. 
