† loathn.
Obsolete.
1. Something hateful or harmful; evil, harm, injury; an annoyance, a trouble.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > harm, injury, or wrong > [noun]
loathc900
harmOE
teenOE
griefc1330
injurec1374
injuryc1384
truitc1390
spitea1400
wrethec1400
supprise1442
trouble1463
damage1470
objectionc1475
interess1489
tort1532
mishanter1754
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harm or injury > [noun]
loathc900
teenOE
ungrithlOE
wemming1100
waningc1175
wrongc1275
prejudicec1300
derea1325
torferc1325
eviltyc1330
griefc1330
wem1338
injurec1374
truitc1390
noyinga1398
inconvenience14..
nocument?a1425
outraya1425
injuryc1430
mischieving1432
supprise1442
incommodityc1450
interess1489
grudge1491
tort1532
wreaka1542
impeachment1548
inconveniency1553
indemnity1556
interestc1575
abuse1595
mischievance1600
oblesion1656
grit1876
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. v. vi. (Schipper) 576 Eala; hwæt þu me mycel yfel and lað dest mid þinre ærninge.
c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 74 Ðonne bið þæs innoðes sar settende & liðigende, þæt hit sona nænig lað ne bið.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8021 Nu þu most þat lað on-fon.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 76 Wo so dede hem wrong or lath,..He dede hem sone to hauen ricth.
a1400 Sir Perc. 1935 To do that lady no lothe That pendid to velany.
c1480 (a1400) St. Alexis 308 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 450 Þat na man did hyme lath.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xvi. 183 Harmes shall ye hent, And lothes you to lap.
2. Dislike, hatred, ill-will; in later use, in physical sense, disgust, loathing. Also to have in loath.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > ill-will > [noun]
evil willc897
leth971
loathc1175
atterness?c1225
ill1303
maltalentc1330
ill-willingnessa1340
talenta1380
malignityc1390
ill willa1400
fellnessc1410
malevolencec1454
malignation?c1500
hatefulness1548
malignance1605
malevolency1635
malignancy1640
reptilism1821
fiendism1852
unbenignity1867
the mind > emotion > hatred > dislike > [noun]
loathc1175
unlikinga1398
mislovinga1500
scunner?a1513
misliking1563
recess1567
mislikea1569
quarrel1579
underliking1581
ill liking1586
disaffection1599
dyspathy1603
exception1604
aversation1612
disrelish1613
unrelishness1615
misaffection1621
averseness1622
distastefulnessa1625
disaffectedness1625
disrelishing1692
eloinmenta1763
unwantedness1955
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > ill will, malevolence > [noun]
evil willc897
leth971
loathc1175
atterness?c1225
ill1303
maltalentc1330
ill-willingnessa1340
talenta1380
malignityc1390
ill willa1400
with hard (also sorry) gracec1405
malevolencec1454
malignation?c1500
malignitiesa1529
hatefulness1548
malignance1605
fiendishness1613
malevolency1635
malignancy1640
fellness1678
malevolentness1727
malignantness1727
reptilism1821
unbenignity1867
the mind > emotion > hatred > loathing or detestation > [noun]
wlatingc725
wlatc960
ugginga1325
uglinessc1325
loathingc1340
abominationc1350
wlatsomenessc1380
wlatingness1382
fastidie?a1425
loathsomenessc1425
ugsomenessc1450
horribility1496
detestation1526
abhorring1528
dislikingc1540
fastidiousness1541
abhorfulness1556
fulsomeness1563
execration1570
abhorment1576
detesting1591
loath?1591
abhorrence1592
abhorrency1596
dislike1597
distaste1598
disgust1611
nausea1619
oppositeness1619
nauseousness1622
detest1638
wearisomeness1642
repugnance1643
odium1645
abhorrition1649
abominate1651
nausity1654
disdain1655
repugnancy1681
degoust1716
repulsion1751
self-repugnance1852
kick1893
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 157 Men schedden hate teres for laþe of þe worlde.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 11887 To shildenn þe wiþþ all hiss laþ.
a1240 Sawles Warde in Cott. Hom. 255 Ich mei..warnin ow of his lað.
a1330 Otuel 603 Eyther forȝaf oþer his loþ.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 458 Be now lathe or lette, ryghte as þe thynkes.
c1420 Chron. Vilod. st. 818 Ever bytwyne hem was hate & loth.
?1507 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 89 Det michi modo ad potandum, And I forgif him laith and wraith.
?1591 R. Bruce Serm. Sacrament iv. sig. Q8 We are come to sic a loath, disdain, & offcasting of this heauenlie foode.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 387 If your horse..grow to a loath of his meate.
1614 G. Markham Cheape & Good Husb. (1623) 141 They are by experience found to breede loathe in the Birds.
1669 J. Flamsteed Let. 24 Nov. in Corr. (1995) I. 17 What then hath cast us behind them? not our want of wits, but loathe of pains.
1728 P. Walker Life A. Peden (1827) 113 O Scotland, many long and great shall thy Judgments be of all kinds..for Loth and Contempt of the Gospel.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
loathlothadj.
/ləʊθ/, U.S. /loʊθ/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adjective]
loathOE
teenfulOE
nithefulOE
ondfula1200
maliciousa1250
doggedc1300
enviousc1330
venomousa1340
venoma1350
spitous?a1366
despitousc1374
heinous?a1400
unkindlya1400
venomyc1400
sinister1411
sputousc1420
doggish?a1425
cankered?a1439
doggya1450
sinistrous1460
spity1481
despiteful1488
spiteful1490
despiteous?1510
viperious?1510
peevisha1522
envyful1530
viperous1535
viperinec1540
vipered1560
bad-minded1588
uncanny1596
dogged-sprighted1600
toothsome1601
maliced1602
ill-minded1611
virulent1613
ill-hearteda1617
doleful1617
spitish1627
ill-meaning1633
splenial1641
litherlya1643
venomsome1660
slim1668
cat-witted1672
vipereal1750
viperish1755
méchant1813
vicious1825
maliceful1840
mean1841
waspish1855
viperian1866
viperan1877
cattish1883
catty1886
bad mind1904
bitchy1908
OE Beowulf 1505 Þæt heo þone fyrdhom ðurhfon ne mihte..laþan fingrum.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3811 He lengit not long in his lothe hate.
a. Repulsive, unpleasant, hateful, loathsome.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > object of detestation (person or thing) > [adjective]
loatha700
eileOE
andsetec1000
wlatfulc1230
aloathedc1275
wlatsomea1300
unhonest13..
wlata1325
hideousc1330
abominable1340
hatefula1382
hatesomea1382
abominablec1384
odiousa1387
fulsomec1390
accursedc1400
hatousc1400
rankc1400
hateablec1425
odiblec1425
ugsomec1425
wretchedc1430
loathsomec1440
loathfula1450
noisomea1450
abhominal1477
detestable1477
loathy1481
loathing?a1513
oppugnanta1513
irksome1513
hateworthy1548
abhorful1565
ugged1570
detestine1575
ulcerous1577
opposite1578
scandalous1592
offensive1594
obscene1597
ulcered1602
dirtya1616
abhorrent1628
toady1628
envious1630
repugnant1633
nauseating1645
nauseous1646
obnoxious1646
detestful1654
reluctant1663
horrid1666
abnoxious1682
devilish1692
invidious1710
repellent1776
repellant1780
sickening1789
toadish1822
carrion1826
ugging1839
cussed1853
repugnant1879
jerky1944
vomitous1952
barfy1957
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant
loatha700
unsweetc890
grimlyc893
unquemeOE
un-i-quemeOE
evila1131
sourc1175
illc1220
unhightlyc1275
unwelcomec1325
unblithec1330
unnetc1330
unrekena1350
unagreeablec1374
uncouthc1380
unsavouryc1380
displeasantc1386
unlikinga1398
ungaina1400
crabbedc1400
unlovelyc1400
displeasing1401
eschewc1420
unsoot1420
mislikinga1425
unlikelya1425
unlustya1425
fastidiousc1425
unpleasantc1430
displicable1471
unthankfulc1475
displeasant1481
uneasy1483
unpleasinga1500
unfaring1513
badc1530
malpleasant?1533
noisome1542
thanklessa1547
ungrate1548
untoothsome1548
ungreeable1550
contrary1561
disagreeable1570
offensible1575
offensive1576
naughty1578
delightlessa1586
undelightful1585
unwisheda1586
unpleasurable1587
undelightsomec1595
dislikeful1596
disliking1596
ungrateful1596
unsweet?a1600
distastive1600
impleasing1602
distasting1603
distasteful1607
unsightly1608
undelectable1610
disgustful1611
unrelishing1611
waspisha1616
undeliciousa1618
unwished-for1617
disrelishing1631
unenjoyed1643
unjoyous1645
mirya1652
unwelcomed1651
unpleasivea1656
sweet1656
injucund1657
insuave1657
unpalatable1658
unhandsome1660
undesirable1667
disrelishablea1670
uncouthsome1684
shocking1703
nasty1705
embittering1746
indelectable1751
undelightinga1774
nice and ——1796
unenjoyablea1797
ungenial1796
uncomplacent1805
ungracious1807
bitter1810
rotten1813
uncongenial1813
quarrelsome1825
grimy1833
nice1836
unrelished1863
bloody1867
unbewitching1876
ferocious1877
displeasurable1879
rebarbative1892
charming1893
crook1898
naar1900
peppery1901
negative1902
poisonous1906
off-putting1935
unsympathetic1937
piggy1942
funky1946
umpty1948
pooey1967
minging1970
Scrooge-like1976
sucky1984
stank1991
stanky1991
a700 Epinal Gloss. 514 Ingratus, lath.
OE Beowulf 134 Wæs þæt gewin to strang, lað ond longsum.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 71 And kep us from his waning þat laþe gast þet laðe þing.
a1200 Moral Ode 283 Þer is þe loþe sathanas.
c1220 Bestiary 458 Seftes sop ure seppande..leiðe and lodlike.
c1300 Harrow. Hell 154 Bring ous of this lothe hous.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 369 And niðful neddre, loð an liðer, Sal gliden on hise brest neðer.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xv. 6 Þof þai seme laith & outkastynge.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7829 To dreri ded þat he be don, Laþer ded þan [printed þat] ani in lijf.
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 29 Þenk on þe leyþ lazar was borne into Abraamus barme.
c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 771 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 51 A fowle padow..þat wes laythe to se.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. x. 94 He was foule and layth to syght.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid ii. ii. 128 But mair abaid, As was devisit, the laith worde furth braid.
1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. viii. 429 We should not take anie sure comfort till we haue..altered quite so loathe a life.
1592 W. Wyrley Capitall de Buz in True Vse Armorie 155 Relaxment from loth prison strong.
ΚΠ
c893 tr. Orosius Hist. iv. x. §7 Swa lað wæs Pena folc Scipian..ðæt [etc.].
11.. Anglo-Saxon Chron. anno 1048 (Laud) Him wæs lað to amyrrene his agenne folgað.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 He his uniseli ȝif him is lað to donne þis.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 150 Þis un þeau..is þach of alle an laðest god.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3649 Þes tidende him wes læð [c1300 Otho loþ].
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1996 Þe quike hire wes swa swiðe leoð [c1300 Otho loþ] þat [etc.].
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 119/454 Lothȝ vs were any-þing to don.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1102 To blam þe broiþer was þam laith.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1216 Hir was ysmaeles anger loð.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1255 Him loþ þouȝt no lenger to striue.
c1386 G. Chaucer Manciple's Tale 41 For hym were looth byiaped for to be.
c1420 Anturs of Arth. 432 To losse swylke a lordschipe me thynke it fulle laythe.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 1484 Here seruice to him was nat lothe.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur i. xxii That is me loth said the knyght, but sythen I muste nedes I wille dresse me therto.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid i. Prol. 489 Bot laith me war, but other offence or cryme, Ane bruitell body suld intertrike my ryme.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > ugliness > [adjective]
foulOE
uglyc1386
malgraciousa1393
unsightlya1400
loathc1400
ouglec1415
shrewdc1430
unsightyc1440
unwholesome?a1500
evil-favoured1530
ill-favoured1530
uglisome1530
huggeda1533
hard-favoureda1535
evil-liking1535
ill-favorited1579
stigmatical1589
stigmatic1597
sightlessa1616
hard-featured1638
grislya1681
bad-looking1757
unmackly1765
unfavourable1776
dissightly1777
eyesore1798
wavelled1886
spiderly1891
Plain Jane1912
hackit1985
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xvii. 77 Þe wymmen er riȝt layth and ill araid.
c1403 in W. G. Henderson Manuale & Processionale Ecclesiæ Eboracensis (1875) p. xvi I take the, N., to my wedded wyfe..to hold and to haue..for fayrer, for layther.
1484 in J. T. Fowler Acts Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1875) 162 (note) For farer for lather.
4. † c. Displeased. Obsolete. rare.
a. Averse, disinclined, reluctant, unwilling. Const. (†for) to with infinitive, also for (a person) to (do something), also with sentence as object; occasionally with of, to, unto, followed by a noun.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective]
argha1000
slowOE
unwillyc1200
sweera1300
unfain1338
loathc1374
dangerousc1386
eschewc1386
squeamous1387
obstinate?a1439
unpresta1500
ill-willing?1520
evil-willing1525
untowards1525
untowarda1530
unwilling1533
strange1548
ill-willed1549
dainty1553
relucting1553
squeamish?1553
nicea1560
loathful1561
coyish1566
coy1576
unhearty1583
costive1594
unready1595
tarrowinga1598
undisposed1597
involuntary1598
backward1600
retrograde1602
unpregnant1604
scrupulous1608
unprone1611
refractory1614
behindhanda1616
nilling1620
backwards1627
shya1628
retractable1632
reluctant1638
loughta1641
tendera1641
unapt1640
uninclinable1640
unbeteaming1642
boggling1645
averse1646
indisposed1646
aversant1657
incomposed1660
disinclined1703
unobliging1707
unconsenting1713
uninclined1729
tenacious1766
disinclinable1769
ill-disposed1771
unaffectioned1788
scruplesomec1800
back-handed1817
sweert1817
tharf1828
backward in coming forward1830
unvoluntary1834
misinclined1837
squeamy1838
balky1847
retractive1869
grudging1874
tharfish1876
unwishful1876
safety first1917
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) ii. pr. iv. 27 She lyueth loþ of this lyf.
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iv. xxiv. 70 She fond the so dulle and soo lothe to hir wordes.
a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) l. 27788 Wanhope..It makes a man lath for to lere.
c1440 Bone Flor. 1126 The pope was not lothe To assoyle hym of hys othe.
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) i. sig. Aij/2 Loothe to offende I purpose to saye somwhat vnder the correccyon of excellent lerned doctours.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. cxciii. 229 The whiche the erle of saynt Powle was lothe vnto.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 575 Full laith he wes..To put his honour in dame Fortonis handis.
1536 in J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. (1611) ix. xxi. 776/2 What king hath be lother to punish his Subjects.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xciij The duke of Gloucester..beganne to waxe lothe of his supposed wife.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 702 He was..laith for to stynt.
1598 R. Hakluyt tr. E. van Meteren in Princ. Navigations (new ed.) I. 600 The residue shewed themselues unwilling and loath to depart.
a1600 T. Deloney Pleasant Hist. Iohn Winchcomb (1619) vii. sig. Hiv The loather to speake, for that hee could speake but bad english.
a1657 W. Mure Sonn. iii. 12 (S.T.S.) I. 49 No greif at all..Sall mack me ewer loath of my estait.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 7 Feb. (1974) VIII. 49 I..would be loath he should not do well.
a1680 J. Bargrave Pope Alexander VII (1867) i. ix. 22 His relations being lought to part with the estate they had got by his supposed death.
1713 G. Berkeley Three Dialogues Hylas & Philonous ii. 91 You are loath to part with your old Prejudice.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 169 She found him moderate, and loth to send her to prison.
1724 A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. (1733) I. 114 I am laith that she shou'd tyne.
1811 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. 31 5 The Calvinists..are seen to be..loth to military service.
1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) ix. 113 Would be loath to risk a shilling of it.
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner ix. 142 Lammeter isn't likely to be loth for his daughter to marry into my family.
1890 Sir A. Kekewich in Law Times Rep. 63 764/1 One is loth to believe the similarity is innocent and unintentional.
b. without construction; sometimes quasi-adv. nothing loath: not at all unwilling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > willingness > [adjective]
freeeOE
well-willingOE
readyc1175
fainc1275
buxoma1300
prestc1300
liefc1325
rifec1390
willyc1390
baina1400
willinga1400
listyc1440
towardc1440
appliable1449
pronea1450
wilfulc1460
prompt?a1475
content1477
towardly1513
contenteda1525
towards1525
fond1529
comingc1576
unrefusinga1586
open-armed1594
voluntary1598
gainsome1629
easy1653
unreluctant1654
nothing loath1667
applicable1702
irreluctanta1706
unhesitating1753
unloath1861
prone-minded1869
c1475 Lerne or be Lewde (Harl. 5086) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 9 To Lothe, ne to Lovyng, ne to Lyberalle of goode.
1608 G. Wilkins Painfull Adventures Pericles vi. sig. E3v To take a loth and sorrowfull departure of her.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 1039 Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank..He led her nothing loath . View more context for this quotation
1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane i. i. 406 As Wretches..Part with their Lives, unwilling, loth and fearful.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby v. i. 206 Thus aged men full loth and slow The vanities of life forego.
1836 J. H. Newman et al. Lyra Apost. 114 See in king's courts loth Jeremiah plead.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. xi. 262 The children were nothing loth, for the house was splendid and the welcome kind enough.
1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iv. 227 Give me permission to cry—Out of bed, You loth rheumatic sluggard!
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective]
loatha1250
unfain1338
ill-liking?a1400
sourc1450
unpleaseda1475
displeasant1485
discontentc1500
discontenteda1513
displeased1581
aggrieved1590
misapaid1614
unrelished1620
injured1634
misliked1641
undelighted1667
uneasya1715
untickled1736
uncharmed1757
disagreeable?c1785
displacent1859
chuffed1960
a1250 Prov. Ælfred 363 in Old Eng. Misc. 124 Þurh lesinge mon is loþ.
1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. i. i. 11 You are loath, That, like a perjur'd Prince, you broke your oath.
5. Used antithetically to lief, in senses 2, 4 See lief adj. 3, and quots. there given.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adverb]
unwillc893
uneathc900
unthankc960
latelyOE
against a person's willa1225
loatha1340
grutchingly1340
at one's unthanksa1400
wandsomely?a1400
at (or again) one's unwillesc1400
uneathsa1425
unwilfully1435
invitec1450
tarrowinglyc1480
scantly1509
nicely1530
tarryingly1530
unwillingly?1531
loathly1547
faintly1548
evil-willingly1549
grudgingly1549
difficultly1551
loathsomely1561
dangerously1573
ill-willing1579
backwardlya1586
costively1598
with an ill will1601
with (a) bad (also ill) grace1614
sadly1622
tenderlya1628
reluctantly1646
shyly1701
uncheerfully1754
à contre-coeur1803
shrinkingly1817
retractatively1851
begrudgingly1853
forcibly1867
loathfully1887
tharfly1894
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lxxvi[i]. 1 Þe laghere is oure voice and þe lathere ere we herd.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 1185 (1234) Of þing ful ofte loth bygonne Cometh ende good.
7. loath to depart n. originally the tune of a song (probably containing those words) expressive of regret for departure; transferred any tune played as a farewell.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > specific song
Greensleeves1584
loath to depart1584
up tails all1601
welcome song1681
Lillibullero1688
Hallelujah Chorus1775
alleluia chorus1819
knees up, Mother Brown1939
1584 R. Greene Arbasto 24 With that, she cast on me such a louing looke, as she seemed to play loth to depart.
1609 Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia in Chappell Pop. Mus. Old Time I. 173 Sing with thy mouth, sing with thy heart, Like faithful friends, sing Loath to depart.
1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects 80 Yet againe returning to the Hive, with delightful melody singing a loath to depart, [they] invite all their Sisters to hasten apace, and wait upon their Queen now on her coronation day.
1855–7 W. Chappell Pop. Mus. Olden Time II. 708 It [sc. ‘The Girl I left behind me’] has also been played for at least seventy years, as a Loth-to-depart, when a man-of-war weighs anchor, and when a regiment quits the town in which it has been quartered.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Loath to depart, probably the first line of some favourite song; formerly the air was sounded in men-of-war, when going foreign, for the women and children to quit the ship.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1903; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c900
adj.a700