detest Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards
    hate.
    • I hate Mexican food
    • She detests politicians

WordNet

De*test" transitive verb
Etymology
L. detestare, detestatum, and detestari, to curse while calling a deity to witness, to execrate, detest; de + testari to be a witness, testify, testis a witness: cf. F. détester. See Testify.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Detested; present participle & verbal noun Detesting
Definitions
  1. To witness against; to denounce; to condemn. Obs.
    The heresy of Nestorius . . . was detested in the Eastern churches. Fuller.
    God hath detested them with his own mouth. Bale.
  2. To hate intensely; to abhor; to abominate; to loathe; as, we detest what is contemptible or evil.
    Who dares think one thing, and another tell, My heart detests him as the gates of hell. Pope.
    Syn. -- To abhor; abominate; execrate. See Hate.

Webster 1913