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definitions

detest

[ dih-test ]
/ dɪˈtɛst /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR detest ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to feel abhorrence of; hate; dislike intensely.

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RELATED WORDS

despise, abhor, loathe, repudiate, abominate, reject, execrate

Nearby words

  1. determinist,
  2. deterministic,
  3. deterrence,
  4. deterrent,
  5. detersive,
  6. detestable,
  7. detestation,
  8. dethatch,
  9. dethrone,
  10. detick

Origin of detest

1525–35; < Middle French detester < Latin dētestārī to call down a curse upon, loathe, equivalent to dē- de- + testārī to bear witness; see testate
ANTONYMS FOR detest
love, like.
SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR detest ON THESAURUS.COM
Related formsde·test·er, nounun·de·test·ed, adjectiveun·de·test·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for detest

British Dictionary definitions for detest

detest

/ (dɪˈtɛst) /

verb

(tr) to dislike intensely; loathe
Derived Formsdetester, noun

Word Origin for detest

C16: from Latin dētestārī to curse (while invoking a god as witness), from de- + testārī to bear witness, from testis a witness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for detest

detest

v.

early 15c., "to curse, to call God to witness and abhor," from Middle French détester, from Latin detestari "to curse, execrate, abominate, express abhorrence for," literally "denounce with one's testimony," from de- "from, down" (see de-) + testari "be a witness," from testis "witness" (see testament). Related: Detested; detesting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper