different between outlaw vs curse

English

Etymology

From Middle English outlawe, outlagh, utla?e, from Old English ?tlaga (“outlaw”), borrowed from Old Norse útlagi (“outlaw, fugitive”), equivalent to out- +? law. Cognate with Icelandic útlagi (“outlaw”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?a?tl??/

Noun

outlaw (plural outlaws)

1. A fugitive from the law.
2. (historical) A criminal who is excluded from normal legal rights; one who can be killed at will without legal penalty.
3. A person who operates outside established norms.

4. A wild horse.
5. (humorous) An in-law: a relative by marriage.
6. (humorous) One who would be an in-law except that the marriage-like relationship is unofficial.
7. (slang) A prostitute who works alone, without a pimp.
   • 1977, Joseph Julian, Social Problems (page 463)

     Without a pimp, she was an "outlaw," likely to be harassed, or threatened with assault or robbery on the street.

   • 2010, Lawrence Block, Eight Million Ways To Die

     She was an outlaw. Chance is doing some double-checking to see if she had a pimp nobody knew about, but it doesn't look likely.

Synonyms

• (fugitive): absconder, fugitive
• (criminal): bandit, wolfshead
• (person who operates outside established norms): anti-hero, deviant

Hypernyms

• (criminal): See Thesaurus:criminal
• (prostitute): See Thesaurus:prostitute

Translations

Verb

outlaw (third-person singular simple present outlaws, present participle outlawing, simple past and past participle outlawed)

1. To declare illegal.
2. To place a ban upon.
3. To remove from legal jurisdiction or enforcement.

4. To deprive of legal force.
   • 1662, Thomas Fuller, History of the Worthies of England

     our English common law was outlawed in those parts.

See also

• criminalize
• felonize
• misdemeanorize

Translations

Further reading

• outlaw in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• outlaw in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• outlaw at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k??s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /k?s/
• Rhymes: -??(?)s

Etymology 1

From Middle English curse, kors, cors, curs, from Old English cors, curs (“curse”), of unknown origin.

Noun

curse (plural curses)

1. A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.
2. A prayer or imprecation that harm may befall someone.
3. The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment.
   • 1602, William Shakespeare, Toilus and Cressida, Act II, sc. 3:

     The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance ...

4. A vulgar epithet.
5. (slang, dated, derogatory, usually with "the") A woman's menses.

Derived terms

• curse of Scotland

Descendants

• Sranan Tongo: kosi

Translations

• This translation table is meant for translations approximating the derogatory or strongly negative nature of this term in English. For standard translations, see the translation table at menstruation.

Etymology 2

From Middle English cursen, corsen, coursen, from Old English corsian, cursian (“to curse”), from the noun (see above).

Verb

curse (third-person singular simple present curses, present participle cursing, simple past and past participle cursed or (archaic) curst)

1. (transitive) To place a curse upon (a person or object).

   • Captain Edward Carlisle […] felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, […] ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do. He cursed the fate which had assigned such a duty, cursed especially that fate which forced a gallant soldier to meet so superb a woman as this under handicap so hard.

2. To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate.
   • 1611, Bible (King James Version), Exodus xxii. 28

     Thou shalt not […] curse the ruler of thy people.

3. (transitive) To speak or shout a vulgar curse or epithet.
4. (intransitive) To use offensive or morally inappropriate language.
   • 1611, Bible (King James Version), Matthew xxi. 74

     Then began he to curse and to swear.

   Synonym: swear

5. To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment.
   • 1703, Alexander Pope, Thebais

     On impious realms and barbarous kings impose / Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those.

Antonyms

• bless

Derived terms

Descendants

• Sranan Tongo: kosi

Translations

Anagrams

• Cruse, Cures, Sucre, crues, cruse, cuers, cures, ecrus, sucre

Latin

Participle

curse

1. vocative masculine singular of cursus

Portuguese

Verb

curse

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of cursar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of cursar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of cursar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of cursar

Romanian

Noun

curse f pl

1. plural of curs?

Spanish

Verb

curse

1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of cursar.
2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of cursar.
3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of cursar.
4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of cursar.