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Added 10 October 2026

loath

/ləʊθ/ adjective

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

Unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom.
a reluctant smile
(usually followed by `to') strongly opposed.
antipathetic to new ideas

Origin

From Middle English lōth (“loath; averse, hateful”), from Old English lāð, lāþ (“evil; loathsome”), or Old Norse leið, leiðr (“uncomfortable; tired”) from Proto-Germanic *laiþaz (“loath; hostile; sad, sorry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyt- (“to do something abhorrent or hateful”).

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

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