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damn definition

damn (dam)

transitive verb damned, damning damn′·ing

    1. Obsolete to condemn as guilty
    2. to condemn to an unhappy fate; doom
    3. Theol. to condemn to endless punishment
  2. to condemn as bad or inferior: often used in the imperative as a curse
  3. to criticize adversely
  4. to cause the ruin of; make fail
  5. to swear at by saying “damn”

Etymology: ME damnen < OFr damner < L damnare, to condemn, fine < damnum, loss, injury, akin to Gr dapanē, cost < IE *depno-, sacrificial feast < base *dā(i)-, to part, divide > time, tatter

intransitive verb

to swear or curse; say “damn,” etc.

noun

the saying of “damn” as a curse

adjective, adverb

Informal damned

interjection

used to express anger, annoyance, disappointment, etc.
damn Idioms

damn with faint praise

to praise with so little enthusiasm as, in effect, to condemn

not give a damn

or not care a damn
Informal not care at all

not worth a damn

Informal worthless

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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