[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/detest/)

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# detest

verb (detest, detests, detested, detesting); adjective (detestable)

«detest» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To hate something or someone very much. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#m1)

### In the lessons

In stories and the more formal voice, characters detest things like cruelty, cabbage or rude people. In everyday talk children usually say «hate» or «can't stand». It is a strong word.

### Examples

- I detest getting up early. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x1)
- She detests unkindness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x2)
- He detests broccoli. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x3)
- The villain detested the hero. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x4)
- My cat detests baths. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x5)
- They detest the cold, wet winters. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x6)
- Their mother detested her eldest son, and had only eyes for the youngest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/#x7)

### Note

Stronger and more formal than «dislike». Not usually used in «-ing» form: «I detest it», not «I am detesting it».

## In Jewish tradition

Means to treat an idol or an idol-linked object as utterly hateful and keep far away from it.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads this as the law against profiting from or keeping anything used for idol worship.

### Examples

- And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and be accursed like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing. (Torah DEU.7.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detest/#x1)

### Note

Stronger and more formal than «dislike». Not usually used in «-ing» form: «I detest it», not «I am detesting it».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «detest» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«detest» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/detest.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «detest» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«detest» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/detest.html) on Mova free.