Augustine of Hippo : MEANING OF THE WORD CURSE. — Let there be an oath between us and you , that is to say, an oath that obliges with curses, which are to come to him who dares to perjure. It must be observed that this was the meaning of the words used by the servant of Abraham in his speech to those whom he received a wife for his master Isaac. [ — QUESTIONS ON GENESIS, Q. 76 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)