loath
pronunciation
How to pronounce loath in British English:
UK [ləʊθ]
How to pronounce loath in American English:
US [loʊθ]
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- Adjective:
- unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
- (usually followed by `to') strongly opposed
Word Origin
- loath (adj.)
- Old English lað "hated; hateful; hostile; repulsive," from Proto-Germanic *laithaz (cognates: Old Saxon, Old Frisian leth "loathsome," Old Norse leiðr "hateful, hostile, loathed;" Middle Dutch lelijc, Dutch leelijk "ugly;" Old High German leid "sorrowful, hateful, offensive, grievous," German Leid "sorrow;" French laid "ugly," from Frankish (Germanic) *laid), from PIE root *leit- "to detest." Weakened meaning "averse, disinclined" is attested from late 14c. Loath to depart, a line from some long-forgotten song, is recorded since 1580s as a generic term expressive of any tune played at farewells, the sailing of a ship, etc. Related: Loathness.
Example
- 1. He seemed somewhat loath to depart .
- 2. But at least in most places , we remain loath to both cherish and consume whales .
- 3. They react on this one problem very slow , very loath .
- 4. People who lived through the great depression were deeply averse to risk and were loath to buy stocks or keep too much money in one bank .
- 5. He spent so many unforgettable days with them that he was loath to part with them .