bell-hater
|bell-hat-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɛlˌheɪtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɛlˌheɪtə/
person who hates bells
Etymology
'bell-hater' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of 'bell' + 'hater' (from the verb 'hate'), where 'bell' meant 'a hollow metal instrument that sounds when struck' and 'hater' meant 'one who hates'.
'bell' comes from Old English 'belle' (meaning 'bell'), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bellōn; 'hater' is formed from the verb 'hate' (from Old English forms of the verb) plus the agentive suffix '-er'. The compound 'bell-hater' is a recent, transparent Modern English formation.
Initially it simply described 'someone who hates bells'; the meaning has remained literal but can also be used humorously or figuratively to indicate strong opposition to bells or bell-ringing.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who dislikes or hates bells (the instruments or their sound); often used for someone who opposes bell-ringing in public or religious contexts.
A few bell-haters argued that the nightly chimes disturbed their sleep and asked the council to limit ringing times.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/26 00:56