Word Study
damn
OXFORD DICTIONARY
damn, v., n., adj., & adv.
--v.tr.
1 (often absol. or as int. of anger or annoyance, = may God damn) curse (a person or thing).
2 doom to hell; cause the damnation of.
3 condemn, censure (a review damning the performance).
4 a (often as damning adj.) (of a circumstance, piece of evidence, etc.) show or prove to be guilty; bring condemnation upon (evidence against them was damning). b be the ruin of.
--n.
1 an uttered curse.
2 sl. a negligible amount (not worth a damn).
--adj. & adv. colloq. = DAMNED.
--v.tr.
1 (often absol. or as int. of anger or annoyance, = may God damn) curse (a person or thing).
2 doom to hell; cause the damnation of.
3 condemn, censure (a review damning the performance).
4 a (often as damning adj.) (of a circumstance, piece of evidence, etc.) show or prove to be guilty; bring condemnation upon (evidence against them was damning). b be the ruin of.
--n.
1 an uttered curse.
2 sl. a negligible amount (not worth a damn).
--adj. & adv. colloq. = DAMNED.
Idiom
damn all sl. nothing at all. damn well colloq. (as an emphatic) simply (damn well do as I say). damn with faint praise commend so unenthusiastically as to imply disapproval. I'm (or I'll be) damned if colloq. I certainly do not, will not, etc. not give a damn see GIVE. well I'm (or I'll be) damned colloq. exclamation of surprise, dismay, etc.
Derivative
damningly adv.
Etymology
ME f. OF damner f. L damnare inflict loss on f. damnum loss
DEVIL DICTIONARY
damn
v. A word formerly much used by the Paphlagonians, the meaning of which is lost. By the learned Dr. Dolabelly Gak it is believed to have been a term of satisfaction, implying the highest possible degree of mental tranquillity. Professor Groke, on the contrary, thinks it expressed an emotion of tumultuous delight, because it so frequently occurs in combination with the word _jod_ or _god_, meaning "joy." It would be with great diffidence that I should advance an opinion conflicting with that of either of these formidable authorities.THESAURUS
damn
a continental, a curse, a damn, a darn, a hoot, abominate, abuse, accurse, accursed, accuse, ace, anathematize, anathemize, animadvert on, arraign, attack, attaint, bagatelle, banish, bauble, be concerned, bean, berate, bibelot, bit, blackguard, blacklist, blame, blaspheme, blast, brass farthing, bring home to, bring to ruin, button, call names, call to account, care, cast blame upon, cast into hell, cast out, cast reflection upon, castigate, censure, cent, complain against, condemn, condemn to hell, confound, consign to hell, consume, convict, criticize, cry down, cry out against, cry out on, cry shame upon, curio, curse, cursed, cuss, cuss out, damnable, damned, darn, deal destruction, decimate, decry, denounce, denunciate, depredate, desolate, despoil, destroy, devastate, devour, discipline, dissolve, doom, doom to perdition, engorge, epithet, epithetize, excommunicate, execrable, execrate, expel, farce, farthing, feather, fig, find guilty, fleabite, folderol, fribble, frippery, fulminate against, gaud, gewgaw, gimcrack, gobble, gobble up, goddamn, goddamned, gut, gut with fire, hair, halfpenny, havoc, hex, hill of beans, hoot, impeach, imprecate, impugn, incinerate, indict, inveigh against, jest, joke, jot, kickshaw, knickknack, knickknackery, lay in ruins, lay waste, lota, mind, minikin, mockery, modicum, molehill, objurgate, ounce, pass sentence on, penalize, peppercorn, picayune, pin, pinch of snuff, pinprick, pronounce judgment, pronounce sentence, proscribe, punish, rap, ravage, red cent, reflect upon, remonstrate, reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprobate, reprove, revile, row of pins, ruin, ruinate, rush, sentence, shake up, shipwreck, shit, shred, snap, sneeshing, sou, straw, swallow up, swear, swear at, throw a whammy, throw into disorder, thunder against, toy, trifle, trinket, triviality, tuppence, two cents, twopence, unleash destruction, unleash the hurricane, upbraid, upheave, vandalize, vaporize, vilify, vituperate, waste, whim-wham, whit, whoop, worry, wrack, wreak havoc, wreckROGET THESAURUS
damn
Condemnation
VB condemn, convict, cast, bring home to, find guilty, damn, doom, sign the death warrant, sentence, pass sentence on, attaint, confiscate, proscribe, sequestrate, nonsuit, disapprove, accuse, stand condemned.Malediction
VB curse, accurse, imprecate, damn, swear at, curse with bell book and candle, invoke curses on the head of, call down curses on the head of, devote to destruction, execrate, beshrew, scold, anathematize, bold up to execration, denounce, proscribe, excommunicate, fulminate, thunder against, threaten, curse and swear, swear, swear like a trooper, fall a cursing, rap out an oath, damn, curse, accurse, imprecate, damn, swear at, curse with bell book and candle, invoke curses on the head of, call down curses on the head of, devote to destruction, execrate, beshrew, scold, anathematize, bold up to execration, denounce, proscribe, excommunicate, fulminate, thunder against, threaten, curse and swear, swear, swear like a trooper, fall a cursing, rap out an oath, damn.For further exploring for "damn" in Webster Dictionary Online