rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: ab-
Latin

ab-

away, off, from

Forms

  • ab-
  • abs- — Expanded Latin form, especially before t.
  • a- — Shortened in some Latin compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *apo, ‘away; off.’

Note

The Greek prefix apo- is a relative from the same older source, not a borrowing from Latin.

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verb

abominate

uh-BAH-mih-nayt/əˈbɑːmɪneɪt/

To hate intensely.

The woman abominates rotten food and recoils from the spoiled meal.

An older Latina adult recoils with intense disgust from spoiled rotten food on a plate.
Etymology
abLatinaway, off, from
+ominLatina sign of what may happen
+ateEnglishmake, become, or act upon

The combination of “away from” and “omen” originally expressed shunning something as an ill omen. This rejection became intense personal hatred or loathing.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain275:18
he professed both to abominate and despise all mystery refinement and Intrigue either in a prince or a minister
1700s Satire: Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels (Audiobook)

More examples

  • He abominated the hypocrisy of the ruling class.
  • She came to abominate the practice after witnessing its effects.
  • The essay attacks everything its author abominates.

Forms

abominate · abominates · abominated · abominating

Similar words

loathe
The more ordinary verb for intense personal hatred.
detest
Expresses strong dislike without the same formal tone.