LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
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“curse” in Latin

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

curse v.
exsecratione uti. To curse anybody, exsecrari aliquem or in aliquem: devovere aliquem, also with the addition of diris (to devote anybody with execrations to the infernal gods): detestari in caput alicujus minas et pericula (to call down on anybody’s head terrible dangers, Liv., 39, 10, 2): detestari in caput alicujus iram deorum (to call on him the wrath of the gods, Plin., Ep., 2, 20, 6): alicui pestem exoptare (Cic.). Whenever they see you, they curse you, te - cum viderunt, tamquam auspicium malum detestantur. ☞ Detestari aliquem, by itself, means merely “to detest anybody,” but never “to curse him :” male precari alicui (to wish him evil), diras (poenas) imprecari alicui. [SYN. in CURSE, s.] To utter impious words, *impias voces jactare, emittere: diras voces addere.
curse s.
Malediction, exsecratio (by which the wrath of the gods is called down on anybody): devotio (by which anybody is excluded from everything holy, and devoted to the infernal gods): imprecatio (by which the wrath of the gods, and evil generally, is called down on anybody): the curse of the gods (inasmuch as it rests upon anybody), irae coelestes (Vid: Liv., 9, 1).
An imprecatory expression, exsecratio: dirae: maledictum (malediction) :
By Metonymy, cause of mischief, pestis; pernicies. (The words are found in this connection and order.) pestis ac pernicies. ☞ “Lues” and “vomica” have not this meaning of “causing destruction or ruin.”

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for curse?
The usual Latin words for “curse” are dīrus, exsecrātiō, dēvōtiō; also imprecātiō, maledīcō, pestis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.