loath
or loth
[lohth, lohth]
- unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse: to be loath to admit a mistake.
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Origin of loath
before 900; Middle English loth, lath, Old English lāth hostile, hateful; cognate with Dutch leed, German leid sorry, Old Norse leithr hateful
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSee reluctant.
Antonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
unwilling, afraid, hesitant, reluctant, counter, disinclined, indisposed, opposed, remiss, resistingExamples from the Web for loath
Contemporary Examples
These officials, however, are loath to talk about him on the record.
Washington, in particular, has been loath to do anything that might escalate.
Perhaps they're loath to identify themselves with a worldview that leaves so little room for nuance.
Was the studio just loath to finance a $200 million R-rated film?
Guillermo Del Toro on ‘Cabinet of Curiosities,’ Collaborating with Kanye West, and MoreMarlow Stern
November 8, 2013
The city was often loath to change companies, in part because it feared the disruption that canceling their routes might cause.
Historical Examples
He was worried and apprehensive, yet the camp lured his mate and she was loath to depart.
White FangJack London
Joshua turned and took another step; but Gorman was loath to let him go.
The Big TomorrowPaul Lohrman
He was only enjoying an interview—a vengeance—he was loath to terminate.
The Big TomorrowPaul Lohrman
I was loath to leave this historical tin box, but time pressed.
He would be loath to die until he had taught her to regret him.
Mistress WildingRafael Sabatini
loath
loth
- (usually foll by to) reluctant or unwilling
- nothing loath willing
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Word Origin
Old English lāth (in the sense: hostile); related to Old Norse leithr
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for loath
adj.
Old English lað "hated; hateful; hostile; repulsive," from Proto-Germanic *laithaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian leth "loathsome," Old Norse leiðr "hateful, hostile, loathed;" Middle Dutch lelijc, Dutch leelijk "ugly;" Old High German leid "sorrowful, hateful, offensive, grievous," German Leid "sorrow;" French laid "ugly," from Frankish *laid), from PIE root *leit- "to detest."
Weakened meaning "averse, disinclined" is attested from late 14c. Loath to depart, a line from some long-forgotten song, is recorded since 1580s as a generic term expressive of any tune played at farewells, the sailing of a ship, etc. Related: Loathness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper