U.S. colloq. or slang. Malignity, perversity of disposition, cantankerousness, ‘contrariness.’
1866. Lowell, Biglow P., Introd. Cussedness, meaning wickedness, malignity.
1884. J. Hawthorne, Fort. Fool, I. xxxiv. What has been termed by some philosophers the natural cussedness of things.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. 360. Owing to the inherent disputatiousness and perversity (what the Americans call ‘cussedness’) of bodies of men.
