detest

C1 Topic:Emotions & Feelings

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.

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

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

Emotions & Feelings

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
- Emotions & Feelings

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