Lothful

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Archaic term describing something full of loathing, or something so repellent that it inspires hatred
2. Old-fashioned word for showing deep disgust or aversion, or for being detestable and offensive to the senses
3. Describing a feeling of intense hatred or revulsion, or a thing that deserves to be despised

Etymology: "Lothful" is a real but rare English adjective meaning reluctant or unwilling, and it is formed from the noun "loth" (also spelled "loath") plus the suffix "-ful." The base word comes from Old English "lāth," meaning hateful, hostile, or repellent, so its original sense was closer to "hostile" than to the mild reluctance it conveys today. The suffix "-ful" was attached to Old English nouns to form adjectives meaning "full of" or "characterized by," so "lothful" literally meant something like "full of loathing." Over time, the strong sense of hatred in "loth" softened into the sense of being disinclined or hesitant, and "lothful" followed the same path. Because "lothful" is a derivative built from a native English root, it is a straightforward formation rather than a borrowing. It is also a close relative of "loathe," which comes from the same Old English word but developed its verb form with a stronger emotional charge.