curse

Curse comes from Middle English curse, kors, cors, curs, which came from Old English cors or curs. Beyond that, its origin is unknown — no earlier root has been traced.

The word passed from Old English cors/curs into Middle English with several spellings (curse, kors, cors, curs) before settling into its modern form.

The verb form, 'to curse,' followed the same path: Middle English cursen, corsen, coursen came from Old English corsian or cursian, which was itself built from the noun.