Primitive cursing was a coercive practice designed to overawe minor spirits. [1] Oaths at the beginning consisted in pronouncing a curse upon oneself. [2] The habit of swearing, profanity, represents a prostitution of former ritualistic repetition of holy names. [3] Peter denied all knowledge of Jesus with much cursing and swearing. [4]
Modern man no longer attempts openly to coerce the spirits, though he still evinces a disposition to bargain with Deity. And he still swears, knocks on wood, crosses his fingers, and follows expectoration with some trite phrase; once it was a magical formula. [5]
See also: UB 150:3.12.