Abomination
/əˌbɒm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/noun
A thing that causes disgust or hatred.
Did you know?The term 'abomination' is derived from Latin roots meaning 'to turn away from' the divine, suggesting a deep-seated fear of cosmic retribution.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁eḱ-
“to be strong, to be powerful, often in a cosmic sense.”
Latin
Latin
abominari
“to regard as an evil omen, to shun or turn away from.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
abominatio
“a turning away with disgust, a strong aversion.”
Old French
Old French
abominacion
“a vile action, something perceived as detestable.”
Middle English
Middle English
abominacioun
“a thing considered abominable, often in a religious context.”
Modern English
English
abomination
“a strong aversion or detestation, especially in moral or religious terms.”
Explore more surprising origins