Abhorson

/əbˈhɔːrsən/ noun

Definition

An archaic or insulting term for a detestable person; someone deserving of abhorrence and contempt.

Etymology

From abhor plus -son suffix (an archaic formation similar to -ling), creating a noun for a person or thing despicable enough to be abhorred. Extremely rare in modern English.

Kelly Says

This word appears in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure as an insult ('thou abhorson'), showing how Renaissance writers created colorful contempt-words by combining root words with various suffixes, creating insults tailored to specific moral failures.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.