different between abhor vs contempt

English

Etymology

First attested in 1449, from Middle English abhorren, borrowed from Middle French abhorrer, from Latin abhorre? (“shrink away from in horror”), from ab- (“from”) +? horre? (“stand aghast, bristle with fear”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b?h??(?)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /æb?h??/, /?b?h??/
• Rhymes: -???

Verb

abhor (third-person singular simple present abhors, present participle abhorring, simple past and past participle abhorred)

1. (transitive) To regard (someone or something) as horrifying or detestable; to feel great repugnance toward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]

   Synonyms: detest, disdain, loathe

   • 1611, Romans 12:9, King James Bible:

     Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

2. (transitive, obsolete, impersonal) To fill with horror or disgust. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the early 17^th century.]
   • c. 1604 William Shakespeare, Othello, act 4, scene 1:

     It does abhor me now I speak the word.

3. (transitive) To turn aside or avoid; to keep away from; to reject.
4. (transitive, canon law, obsolete) To protest against; to reject solemnly.
   • c. 1613 William Shakespeare, Henry VIII, act 2, scene 4:

     I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul Refuse you for my judge.

5. (intransitive, obsolete) To feel horror, disgust, or dislike (towards); to be contrary or averse (to); construed with from. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the mid 17^th century.]
   • 1531, Thomas Elyot, The Boke named the Governour

     the daunce were to their honour and memorie, whiche moste of all abhored from Christes religion

   • c. 1644, John Milton, "The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce", Book II, Chap. 7.

     Either then the law by harmless and needful dispenses, which the gospel is now made to deny, must have anticipated and exceeded the grace of the gospel, or else must be found to have given politic and superficial graces without real pardon, saying in general, “do this and live,” and yet deceiving and damning underhand with unsound and hollow permissions; which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law, as hath been shewed.

6. (intransitive, obsolete) Differ entirely from. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the late 17^th century.]

Conjugation

Synonyms

• (to regard as horrifying or detestable): See Thesaurus:hate

Related terms

Translations

References

• abhor in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• abhor in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Bohra, Borah, broha

English

Alternative forms

• c?tempt, cõtempt (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin contemptus (“scorn”), from contemn? (“I scorn, despise”), from com- + temn? (“I despise”). Displaced native Old English forsewennes.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?mpt/
• Rhymes: -?mpt

Noun

contempt (countable and uncountable, plural contempts)

1. (uncountable) The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
2. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
3. (law) Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:contempt

Antonyms

• See Thesaurus:contempt

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• contempt in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• contempt in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• contempt at OneLook Dictionary Search