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Detest

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to dislike intensely

Where does the word "detest" come from? It comes from Latin detestari, passing through French before entering English (1500s).

detestari→detester→detest

Latin · ancient

"to curse while calling the gods to witness"

'de-' plus 'testari', to witness

French · 1500s

Latin 'detestari' meant to curse by calling the gods to witness, from 'testis', a witness

English · 1500s

'detestable' is older, from the 1300s

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Read the full story

Detest’s story begins in Latin: detestari meant “to curse while calling the gods to witness.” 'de-' plus 'testari', to witness. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as detester. Latin 'detestari' meant to curse by calling the gods to witness, from 'testis', a witness. It reached English by 1500s as detest. 'detestable' is older, from the 1300s. Today, detest means to dislike intensely.