Odium
/ˈoʊ.di.əm/noun
General or public hatred and contempt; something that arouses strong dislike.
Did you know?Odium comes from Latin odium, meaning “hatred,” and it’s part of a deep Indo-European family behind words for stench, disgust, and loathing — proof that language has always had a shadow side.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃ed-
“to smell, to stink”
Latin
Latin
odī
“I hate”
Latin
Latin
odium
“hatred, odium, object of hatred”
Late Latin
Latin
odium
“hatred, ill will, public detestation”
Old French
Old French
odium
“hatred, disgrace”
Modern English
English
odium
“general or widespread hatred or contempt”