loath
Use Loath in a sentence
adjective
unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse: to be loath to admit a mistake.
Also, loth.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English loth, lath, Old English lāth hostile, hateful; cognate with Dutch leed, German leid sorry, Old Norse leithr hateful
before 900; Middle English loth, lath, Old English lāth hostile, hateful; cognate with Dutch leed, German leid sorry, Old Norse leithr hateful
Related forms
loath·ness, noun
o·ver·loath, adjective
un·loath, adjective
un·loath·ly, adverb
Antonyms
eager.
eager.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To loath
00:10
Loath
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
loath or loth (ləʊθ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | ( |
| 2. | nothing loath willing |
| [Old English lāth (in the sense: hostile); related to Old Norse leithr] | |
| loth or loth | |
| —adj | |
| [Old English lāth (in the sense: hostile); related to Old Norse leithr] | |
| 'loathness or loth | |
| —n | |
| 'lothness or loth | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
loath
O.E. lað "hostile, repulsive," from P.Gmc. *laithaz (cf. O.Fris. leed, O.N. leiðr "hateful, hostile, loathed;" M.Du. lelijc, Du. leelijk "ugly;" O.H.G. leid "sorrowful, hateful, offensive, grievous," Ger. Leid "sorrow;" Fr. laid "ugly," from Frankish *laid). Weakened meaning "averse, disinclined"
is attested from late 14c. Loath to depart, a line from some long-forgotten song, is recorded since 1580s as a generic term expressive of any tune played at farewells, the sailing of a ship, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Indeed, many physicians are loath to ascribe infection to a particular uniform.
Most cities are loath to let you remove designated parkway trees.
Consumers are loath to break big bills for unnecessary purchases.
When she presented him with this knife he was a bit loath to accept it.
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