detest

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈtɛst/ See IPA manual

Freq #18262

Meanings

1

verb
To dislike someone or something very strongly; to hate.

I absolutely detest getting up early on cold mornings.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to dislike someone or... hate loathe

Word family

Forms detesteddetestingdetests

Derived forms detestabilityundetesting

Related forms abhor despise detestable detestation disdain dislike hate loathe

Simplified etymology

Detest, recorded from the late Middle Ages, ultimately derives from Latin testis, “witness.” It originally meant “to denounce.”

Etymology

PIE word *tréyes From Middle French detester (French détester), from Latin dētestor (“to imprecate evil while calling the gods to witness", "denounce", "hate intensely”), from dē- + testor (“to testify, bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”); see test, testify. Doublet of detestate.

*steh₂- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# detest

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈtɛst/
**Frequency rank:** 18262

## Meanings
1. To dislike someone or something very strongly; to hate.

## Examples
- I absolutely detest getting up early on cold mornings.

## Derived Forms
- detestability
- undetesting

## Related Forms
- abhor
- despise
- detestable
- detestation
- disdain
- dislike
- hate
- loathe

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *steh₂-

## Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Middle French detester (French détester), from Latin dētestor (“to imprecate evil while calling the gods to witness", "denounce", "hate intensely”), from dē- + testor (“to testify, bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”); see test, testify. Doublet of detestate.

## AI Etymology
Detest is from Middle French detester (French détester), from Latin dētestor (“to imprecate evil while calling the gods to witness", "denounce", "hate intensely”), from dē- + testor (“to testify, bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”); see test, testify. Doublet of detestate. A key historical form is Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-. In present-day use, it means to dislike someone or something very strongly; to hate. Derived formations include detestability, undetesting.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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