2006-08-02 17:29:35 · 5 answers · asked by Patrice C 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Most "curse" words originate from the Catholic church disaproving of using their god's name in vain (such as in "oh god!" in frustration). Saying "d*^% it!" was to literally wish something be sent to Hell, a much more serious wish than it is today. Other words, like the f-bomb, are crass sexual descriptions, and thus carry themselves as status markers (as in, the upper class would not use such low phrases). Reserving certain explicitives for specific utterances preserves their power. They display a high level of emotion lacking in other, more common words.
2006-08-02 17:38:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
English? The Saxons? Most of them came from fighting and killing - f-ck and c-nt are onomatopoeisms for the sound of a broad sword and what it did. Curse words are bad in general, well, because they curse, and cursing is not good.
2006-08-03 01:00:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were signs of contempt for each other, the most popular curse word "f**k" came about between english and french warriors, in particular the archers, who's middle finger (the plucking finger) was cut off to prevent them from using their bows. the "Pluck-you! eventually came down to the word we know today. That's why, you also hear the phrase, "pardon my french" before that curse word is used.
2006-08-03 21:38:59 · answer #3 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wanna know too! I've always wondered that!
2006-08-03 00:33:16 · answer #4 · answered by Dan =] 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GREAT question. I' ve wondered about this myself.
2006-08-03 00:34:31 · answer #5 · answered by tooyoung2bagrannybabe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋