Abhorred

/əbˈhɔːrd/ verb

Definition

Past tense of abhor; felt extreme hatred, disgust, or loathing toward something.

Etymology

From Latin abhorrere, meaning 'to shrink back from in horror,' composed of ab- (from) and horrere (to shudder or bristle). The word originally described a physical shuddering reaction that evolved into describing emotional revulsion.

Kelly Says

The Latin root horrere is also the origin of 'horror' and 'horrid'—so when someone abhors something, they're literally 'shuddering away' from it, a metaphor that captures how visceral hatred feels in your body.

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