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detest

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅test

  [di-test]
Use detest in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
to feel abhorrence of; hate; dislike intensely.
Origin:
1525–35; < MF detester < L dētestārī to call down a curse upon, loathe, equiv. to dē- de- + testārī to bear witness; see testate

Related forms:
de⋅test⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
abhor, loathe, abominate, execrate, despise. See hate.

Antonyms:
love, like.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To detest
de·test   (dĭ-těst')   
tr.v.   de·test·ed, de·test·ing, de·tests
To dislike intensely; abhor.

[French détester, from Latin dētestārī, to curse : dē-, de- + testārī, to invoke (from testis, witness; see trei- in Indo-European roots).]
de·test'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

detest 
1432 (detestation), from M.Fr. detester, from L. detestari "express abhorrence for," lit. "denounce with one's testimony," from de- "from, down" + testari "be a witness," from testis "witness" (see testament). Originally also trans., "to curse, to call God to witness and abhor."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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