abhorrent
/æbˈhɔːrənt/
adjective
Origin
Latin
abhorrens — shrinking back from; detesting
Overview
Meaning Now
- Inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant.
- Contrary to or incompatible with.
Literal older meaning
shrinking away from
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
abhorrent
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The root 'horrere' originally described the physical sensation of one's hair standing on end due to fear or intense cold, which evolved to describe emotional revulsion or moral condemnation in later Latin and subsequent European languages.
Evolution
- Latin
abhorrere
“to shrink back from; to bristle”
From 'ab' (away) + 'horrere' (to bristle, shudder).
- Latin
abhorrens
“shuddering away from”
Present participle of abhorrere.
- 17th century English
abhorrent
“repugnant, contrary”
Adopted into English from the Latin participle via French influence.
Connections
Word parts
ab-
prefix
away from
horr-
root
to bristle, shudder
-ent
suffix
forming adjectives from present participles
Related across languages
French
abhorrent
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.