loath etymology

Etymology

• Old English lāþ ("hateful, loathsome, hostile")
• Proto-Germanic *laiþaz ("disgusting, repulsive")
• Indo-European *leikʷ- ("to leave, abandon")

Meaning

• Feeling or showing strong aversion or dislike; hating or detesting

Origin

The word "loath" has its roots in Old English, where it meant "hateful" or "loathsome." It is related to the Proto-Germanic word "laiþaz," which also meant "disgusting" or "repulsive." The ultimate origin of the word is believed to be the Indo-European root "*leikʷ-," which meant "to leave" or "abandon." This suggests that the original sense of "loath" was "to feel like leaving or abandoning something."

Over time, the meaning of "loath" has evolved to encompass a broader range of negative emotions, including aversion, dislike, and hatred. It is now commonly used to describe feelings of strong dislike or repugnance.

loath relate terms

• jolly

  Etymology The word jolly comes from the Middle English word joly which in turn comes

• loath

  Etymology Old English lāþ hateful loathsome hostile Proto Germanic laiþaz di

• laidly

  Etymology Middle English laylich laylych Old English læðlic Meaning Unpleasant

• loath

  Etymology Old English lāþ hateful loathsome hostile Proto Germanic laiþaz di

• averse

  Etymology Latin aversus meaning turned away Originally from the Proto Indo Europe

• indisposed

  Etymology Indisposed derives from the Late Latin indispositus which means unfit out o

• reluctant

  Etymology The word reluctant comes from the Latin word reluctans meaning strugglin

• holt

  Etymology Old English holt holt meaning a wood grove copse Proto Germanic hultaz

• depart

  Etymology The word depart comes from the Latin word disparāre which means to separ

• persevere

  Etymology French persévérer Latin perseverare Prefix per through Verb severa

• patsy

  Etymology Middle English Patsye Pet form of Patricia Latin for nobleman s daughter

• demagogue

  Etymology Origin Greek Word demagogos δῆμος dēmos people ἄγω agō