— damner , n.
/dam/ , v.t.
1. to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal.
2. to condemn as a failure: to damn a play.
3. to bring condemnation upon; ruin.
4. to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell.
5. to swear at or curse, using the word "damn": Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!
v.i.
6. to use the word "damn"; swear.
7. damn with faint praise , to praise so moderately as, in effect, to condemn: The critic damned the opera with faint praise when he termed the production adequate.
interj.
8. (used as an expletive to express anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.)
n.
9. the utterance of "damn" in swearing or for emphasis.
10. something of negligible value: not worth a damn.
11. give a damn , Informal. to care; be concerned; consider as important: You shouldn't give a damn about their opinions. Also, give a darn .
adj.
12. damned (defs. 2, 3).
adv.
13. damned.
14. damn well , Informal. See damned (def. 7).
[ 1250-1300; ME dam ( p ) nen dam ( p ) ner damnare to condemn, deriv. of damnum damage, fine, harm ]
Syn. 2. berate, censure, denounce, disparage, blast.