Detestability

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being intensely disliked or loathed is evident in various contexts and situations
2. The state of being subject to strong aversion or deep-seated dislike is recognized in social interactions
3. This attribute reflects an inherent capability to incite strong feelings of disgust or disdain among individuals

Etymology: "Detestability" is a plain formation: the verb "detest" with the suffix "-ability" attached. "Detest" came into English from Latin "detestari," meaning to curse or denounce by calling on the gods to witness, built from "de-" (away, down) and "testari" (to bear witness, related to "testis," a witness). The sense of holding something in intense loathing developed from that act of solemn denunciation. The suffix "-ability" joins to verbs ending in "-able" or to bases like "detest" through the pattern "-ability," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality. Words built this way describe what a thing can be made to suffer or what can be done to it, so "detestability" names the quality of being loathsome enough to provoke strong dislike.