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Added 9 October 2026

detest

/dɪˈtɛst/ verb

In Latin: odi, exsecror, execror Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about detest at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards.
I hate Mexican food

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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