detest

[dih-test]

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verb (used with object)

to feel abhorrence of; hate; dislike intensely.

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

Related formsde·test·er, nounun·de·test·ed, adjectiveun·de·test·ing, adjective

Synonyms for detest

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abhor, loathe, abominate, execrate, despise. See hate.

Antonyms for detest

love, like.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for detested

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

British Dictionary definitions for detested

detest

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 detested

detest

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.