abhor: [15] Abhor comes from Latin abhorrēre, which literally meant ‘shrink back in terror’ (from the prefix ab- ‘away’ and horrēre ‘tremble’ – which also gave English horror and horrid). The word used to have this intransitive meaning ‘be repelled’ in English too, but the transitive usage ‘loathe’ (which was probably introduced from Old French in the 15th century) has completely taken its place. => horrid, horror
abhor (v.)
mid-15c., from Latin abhorrere "shrink back from, have an aversion for, shudder at," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + horrere "tremble at, shudder," literally "to bristle, be shaggy," from PIE *ghers- "start out, stand out, rise to a point, bristle" (see horror). Related: Abhorred; abhorring.
