▪ I. detest, v.
(dɪˈtɛst)
[a. F. déteste-r (Villon, 15th c.), ad. L. dētestāre (-ārī) to execrate while calling God to witness, to denounce, abhor, renounce, f. de- I. 1, down + testārī to bear witness, call to witness.]
† 1. trans. To curse, calling God to witness; to express abhorrence of, denounce, execrate. Obs.
| 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 12 The saide mariage..was prohibited and detested by the lawes of almighty god. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 62 He..began, be lang orisone, to detest the insolence, avarice and unnatural hatrent of the kingis sonnis. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1684) I. 733/2 All that were about him being amazed, utterly detested the fact. 1627 Hakewill Apol. ii. vii. §5 The fearefull inhabitants of Putyole flying through the dark..crying out and detesting their Calamities. 1632 Sir R. Le Grys tr. Velleius Paterc. 254 All posteritie shall..with execrations detest thy fact. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xxxvii. 147 We did not a little detest amongst ourselves both the Fonsecas and the Madureyras, but much more the Devil, that wrought us this mischief. a 1745 Swift Hen. I Wks. 1768 IV. 275 With bitter words, detesting the pride and insolence of Henry. |
2. To feel abhorrence of; to hate or dislike intensely; to abhor, abominate.
| a 1535 More Wks. 422 (R.), I finde in Erasmus my derlyng y{supt} he detesteth and abhorreth the errours and heresies that Tyndall plainly teacheth. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 528 To caus all man for to detaist sic thing. 1550 Crowley Last Trump. 1292 A vile slaue that doth all honestie deteste. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 111 Learn..of Diogenes to detest women, be they neuer so comely. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. v. 220 A colour she abhorres, and..a fashion shee detests. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 240 His owne pallat detested them. 1792 Burke Corr. (1844) III. 391 My party principles..must lead me to detest the French revolution, in the act, in the spirit, in the consequences, and most of all, in the example. 1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne vii. 130, I detest the very name. Mod. To marry a man whom she detests! |
b. with inf. or clause. rare.
| a 1553 Philpot Wks. (1842) 410 Why dost thou so much detest to grant that we obtain the divine justice through faith. 1647 G. Palmer Sectaries Unm. 52, I detest to think of it. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. vi. §51 The Justice of the Land detesteth that the Judge should himself be an Accuser. |
† 3. To renounce solemnly or under oath; to abjure. Obs. rare.
| 1688 Answ. Talon's Plea 23 They openly detested their faults either by themselves or by their Ambassadours. |
¶ Misused for attest, protest, testify.
| 1562 T. Phaer æneid. viii. Y iij b, He shewd also the sacrid groue of Argilethus heath, Detesting in that place where Greekish gest was done to death. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. iv. 160 But (I detest) an honest maid as euer broke bread. 1606 Sir G. Goosecappe i. ii. in Bullen O. Pl. III. 17, I detest, Sir Cutt, I did not thinke he had bin halfe the..scholler he is. |
Hence deˈtesting vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Abominacion, detesting. a 1622 Ainsworth Annot. Ps. lxix. 25 Powre out upon them thy detesting ire. 1625 Bp. R. Montagu App. Cæsar 57 In their Abhorring and Detesting of it. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. vi. iii. 366 Virtue wou'd..be seen with this Hand, turn'd..downwards..as in a detesting manner, and with abhorrence. |
▪ II. † deˈtest, n. Obs. rare.
[f. prec. vb.]
Detestation, hearty hatred.
| 1638 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 74 With the increase of detest of the authors. 1671 True Nonconf. 33 One cause, sufficient to produce a just detest. |