Detest Meaning
/dɪˈtɛst/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo dislike (someone or something) intensely; to loathe.
verbTo witness against; to denounce; to condemn.
Sentence Examples
They absolutely detest each other.
I detest having to hurry in the morning.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many people ____ the taste of cilantro and find it soapy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
They absolutely ____ each other.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Who dares think one thing, and another tell, / My heart detests him as the gates of hell."
— 1715–1720, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book IX”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC:
"Nurse Cramer had a cute nose and a radiant, blooming complexion dotted with fetching sprays of adorable freckles that Yossarian detested."
— 1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 171:
"The heresy of Nestorius […] was detested in the Eastern churches."
— 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
"God hath detested them with his own mouth."
— 1545, John Bale, The Image of Both Churches:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many people ____ the taste of cilantro and find it soapy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
They absolutely ____ each other.