loath
/ləʊθ
/(also loth) Usage
adjective [predicative, with infinitive]
Reluctant; unwilling: I was loath to leave...
- It made victims reluctant to prosecute, and juries loath to convict.
- And among other things the poor pigeons, I perceive, were loth to leave their houses, but hovered about the balconies till they were some of them burned and fell down.
- The ship now needs to be sold, but I would be loth to see it go through the courts as in that case other parties would benefit - and not the men.
Synonyms
reluctant, unwilling, disinclined, ill-disposed, not in the mood;
hesitant;
against, averse, opposed, resistant, hostile, antagonistic;
resisting
Usage
Although different in meaning, loath and loathe are often confused. Loath is an adjective (also spelled loth) meaning ‘reluctant or unwilling’, as in I was loath to leave, whereas loathe is a verb meaning ‘feel intense dislike or disgust for’, as in she loathed him on sight.
Derivatives
loathness
Origin
Old English lāth 'hostile, spiteful', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leed, German Leid 'sorrow'.
Rhymes
- lettering
- lettering block
- lettering book
- lettering piece
- lettering tool
- letter jacket
- letter-leaf
- letterless
- letter lichen
- letter lock
- letterly
- letterman
- Letterman, David
- Lettermanesque
- letter mark
- letter missive
- lettermonger
- letter of comfort
- letter of credence
- letter of credit
- letter office
- letter of intent
- letter of marque
- letter opener
- letter ornament