detestations
|de-tes-ta-tion|
/ˌdɪtɛsˈteɪʃən/
(detestation)
strong dislike
Etymology
'detestation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'detestatio' and the verb 'detestari', where the prefix 'de-' meant 'completely/away' and 'testari' (from 'testis') meant 'to call to witness' (used in the sense of invoking or calling down).
'detestation' changed from the Latin verb 'detestari' (to curse or call down evil), passed into Medieval/Old French forms (such as 'detester' meaning to detest), entered Middle English as forms like 'detesten'/'detestacioun', and eventually became the modern English noun 'detestation'.
Initially it meant 'to curse or call down harm' (a sense connected with invoking witness/curse), but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'strong dislike or hatred' and related expressions of denunciation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or feeling of intense dislike or hatred (countable in contexts as individual instances or expressions of such feeling).
Her detestations of cruelty were clear in everything she said and did.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
an expression or instance of denouncing or showing strong dislike (a specific complaint or denunciation).
The committee recorded several detestations of the proposed policy during the meeting.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/02 11:41