▪ I. deter, v.1
(dɪˈtɜː(r))
[ad. L. dēterrēre to frighten from or away, f. de- I. 2 + terrēre to frighten. (Cf. rare OF. deterrer, in Godef., which does not appear to have influenced the Eng. word.)]
1. trans. To discourage and turn aside or restrain by fear; to frighten from anything; to restrain or keep back from acting or proceeding by any consideration of danger or trouble.
| 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 106 If the wasting of our money might not dehort vs, yet the wounding of our mindes should deterre vs. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. i. (1686) 2 He..had thereby Example and Punishment to deterr him. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. x. 405 They [sailors] were rather animated than deterred by the flames and falling buildings amongst which they wrought. 1766 tr. Beccaria's Ess. Crimes xxviii. (1793) 101 That degree of severity which is sufficient to deter others. 1832 H. Martineau Ella of Gar. ix. 113 The farmer..was not deterred by the dreary weather. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iii. vii. 141 note, Maurice..had been deterred by the alarming prophecy of a monk. 1877 J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 308 To deter instead of to invite communicants. |
b. Const. from a place, purpose, action, doing anything; † formerly, to do.
| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. x. (1611) 28 Punishments which may more deterre from euill, than any sweetnesse thereto allureth. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 9 Whereby other may be deterred to doe the like, and vertuous men encouraged to proceed in honest attempts. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 449 If aught propos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the shape Of difficulty or danger, could deterre Me from attempting. 1696 Bp. Patrick Comm. Exod. xxiii. (1697) 437 The Judges were not to be deterred..to pronounce a false judgment. 1709 Prior Celia to Damon 55 When my own Face deters me from my Glass. 1759 Johnson Rasselas 34 Do not seek to deter me from my purpose. 1777 Watson Philip II (1839) 9 This undutiful behaviour did not deter the emperor from resolving to resign to his son all the rest of his dominions. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 411 Superstition had become powerless to deter from violence. |
† 2. To terrify, alarm.
| 1604 Daniel Civ. Wars v. cvi, Who, to deter The state the more, named himself Mortimer. 1634 Wither Emblems Ep. Ded., The storms which late these Realmes deterred. |
Add: [1.] c. To prevent or inhibit.
| 1961 in Webster. 1972 Sci. Amer. July 23/2 This tactic could deter torpedo attack..in just the same way that the strategic offensive force reliably deters a first strike. 1986 Cambridge (Mass.) Chron. 6 Mar. 1/3 Zoning regulations..deter the development of community residences. |
▪ II. † deˈter2, deˈterre, v. Obs.
[a. F. déterrer, OF. desterrer (11th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), f. dé-, des- (de- I. 6) + terre earth: cf. inter v.]
trans. To disinter.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 407 To deterre his dead body. |