abhor
/əbˈhɔːr/
verb
Origin
Latin
abhorrere — to shrink from in horror
Overview
Meaning Now
- To regard with disgust and hatred; to detest.
- To shrink from or reject with repugnance.
Literal older meaning
To shrink back from in horror.
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
abhorren
Earliest period
15. yüzyıl
Journey
The term carries a connotation of visceral, almost physical recoil. It entered English during the late Middle English period as a learned term derived directly from the classical Latin 'abhorrere'.
Evolution
- Latin
abhorrere
“to shrink back from”
From 'ab-' (away) + 'horrere' (to bristle/shudder).
- Middle English
abhorren
“to detest”
Direct loan from Latin.
- Modern English
abhor
“to regard with intense loathing”
The meaning has remained stable since the 16th century.
Connections
Word parts
ab-
prefix
away
hor
root
to bristle/shudder
Related across languages
French
abhorrer
to abhor
Spanish
aborrecer
to hate/detest
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.