English
abhor
Abhor comes from Latin abhorreō ‘shrink away from in horror’, from horreō ‘stand aghast, bristle with fear’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰers- ‘stiff’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵʰers-‘stiff’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhorreō‘stand aghast, bristle with fear’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabhorreō‘shrink away from in horror’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600abhorrer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500abhorren
- Englishearliest quotation 1531abhor
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵʰers-‘stiff’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEhorreō‘stand aghast, bristle with fear’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabhorreō‘shrink away from in horror’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600abhorrer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500abhorren
- Englishearliest quotation 1531abhor
Earliest quotation: 1531, Thomas Elyot, That all daunsinge is nat to be reproued: “Also in those daunces were enterlased dities of wanton…”
first attested First attested in 1449, from Middle English abhorren, borrowed from Middle French abhorrer, from Latin abhorreō (“shrink away from in horror”), from ab- (“from”) + horreō (“stand aghast, bristle with fear”) (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1449, from Middle English abhorren, borrowed from Middle French abhorrer, from Latin abhorreō (‘shrink away from in horror’), from ab- (‘from’) + horreō (‘stand aghast, bristle with fear’).
Linked words
through Latin horreō ‘stand aghast, bristle with fear’
Today it means
verb To regard (someone or something) as horrifying or detestable; to feel great repugnance toward.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰers- / abhor