Revision L

2020-10-31

ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด L – Loath -   Loathe - loathsome

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Dictionary.com

ออกเสียง Loath & Loathe = ‘LOHTH

ออกเสียง loathsome = ‘LOHTH-suhm’

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree

loath

unwilling; reluctant: She was loath to go.

Not to be confused with:

loathe – abominate; hate: They loathe each other.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Choose the Right Synonym for loath

DISINCLINED, HESITANT, RELUCTANT, LOATH, AVERSE

mean lacking the will or desire to do something indicated.

DISINCLINED implies lack of taste for or inclination. disinclined to move again disinclined for reading

HESITANT implies a holding back especially through fear or uncertainty. hesitant about asking for a date

RELUCTANT implies a holding back through unwillingness. a reluctant witness

LOATH implies hesitancy because of conflict with one's opinions, predilections, or liking. seems loath to trust anyone

AVERSE implies a holding back from or avoiding because of distaste or repugnance. averse to hard work not averse to an occasional drink

Choose the Right Synonym for loathe

HATE, DETEST, ABHOR, ABOMINATE, LOATHE

mean to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for.

HATE implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice. hated the enemy with a passion

DETEST suggests violent antipathy. detests cowards

ABHOR implies a deep often shuddering repugnance. a crime abhorred by all

ABOMINATE suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation. abominates all forms of violence

LOATHE implies utter disgust and intolerance. loathed the mere sight of them

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Loath vs. Loathe

Many usage commentators point out that

the spelling of loath the adjective is distinct from loathe,

the verb that means "to dislike greatly."

Merriam-Webster dictionaries record loathe (along with loth) as a variant spelling for the adjective, at the same time indicating that the spelling with an e is not as common as the form without it. Both words hark back to Old English, and the e ending in each has come and gone over the centuries - but if you want to avoid the ire of those who like to keep the language tidy, stick with loath for the adjective and loathe for the verb.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Usage Notes

Is It 'Loath' or 'Loathe'?

There's no need to loathe these two words

Kingsley Amis had an apt, if somewhat pessimistic, view of the likelihood of an adult learning the proper fashion in which to use an apostrophe:

“if you have any trouble with them or it after the age of fourteen or so,

the chances are that you will always be liable to error in the matter.”

Some people who have not yet managed to wrap their guesses around the matter of whether one should use loath or loathe may very well feel the same way about these tricky words.

'Loath' is an adjective; 'loathe' is a verb.

For example: "No wonder my child loathes his food; I'm loath to try it myself."

However! Apostrophes and loathing are not equivalent.

The apostrophe is a treacherous syntactical fen, with its function,

and the rules governing its use, shifting repeatedly over the centuries.

The difference between loath and loathe is fairly straightforward,

and the correct way to use them is within the grasp of anyone who cares to learn it, even if you are over the age of 14.

Before we dive into that difference, a quick word on the history of each.

Both loath and loathe may be traced back to the Old English word lath (“hostile, loathsome”). Each one has had a number of variant spellings over the years, and, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, for at least some portion of their history each word has taken on the spelling of the other (in the 16th century loath was occasionally written as loathe, and loathe was sometimes written as loath between the 15th through 17th centuries); it’s no wonder they are often confused.

Peter Lombard in his sentences reckoneth vp thrée causes why Sacramentes were instituted, that is to say, why spirituall and heauenly thinges were deliuered and committed vnto vs vnder visible signes, fourmes and ceremonies: the first of whiche is so colde and weake, that I am loathe to moue it to memorie.
—Heinrich Bullinger, Fiftie Godlie and Learned Sermons, 1577

But hap what will my heart is sette
I am resolu'd of this conceit,
If by desert I cannot get,
I loath to liue vpon deceit.
—The Arbor of Amorous Deuises Wherin, Young Gentlemen may Reade Many Plesant Fancies, and Fine Deuises: and Thereon, Meditate Diuers Sweete Conceites, to Court the Loue of Faire Ladies and Gentlewomen, 1597

Although these two words had periods of overlap, and some sources still list loathe as a permissible variant of loath, the general movement seems to be toward distinguishing more firmly between them. If you wish to do so, you need remember nothing more than the fact that one is a verb and one is an adjective, and spend some concerted time memorizing which one is which (or get a semantically explanatory tattoo; we hear they are quite fashionable these days).

Loathe is a verb (“to dislike greatly”). You loathe that guy at work who steals your food from the refrigerator (you probably loathe many more people than that, but the guy who steals your food is just the most convenient example).

Loath is an adjective (“not willing”). You are loath to confront the guy at work who keeps stealing your food from the refrigerator, because he often talks to himself and has a peculiar smell.

There. That’s nice and simple, isn’t it?

For the sake of convenience, we are not going to tell you about the fact that there is a now obscure noun form of loath which can mean either “loathing” or “something loathsome”, or that British English also commonly uses the variant of loath that lost an A (the adjectival loth). It is unlikely that this information would change the way you use loath and loathe, and it would either muddy things up, or make the tattoo you’re getting quite a bit longer.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Trend Watch

Loathe

After Madonna ungraciously received a gift of flowers from a fan ...

When:

Lookups spiked on September 6, 2011.

Why:

At a press conference, after receiving a gift of flowers from a fan, the pop star Madonna remarked, "I absolutely loathe hydrangeas – he obviously doesn't know that." Captured by a nearby microphone and television cameras, her sentiment quickly went viral.

To loathe means "to dislike greatly and often with disgust or intolerance." It comes from an Old English word that meant "to dislike" or "to be hateful."

Common Errors In English Usage Dictionary

Loath -   Loathe

“Loath” is a rather formal adjective meaning reluctant and rhymes with “both,”

whereas “loathe” is a common verb meaning to dislike intensely, and rhymes with “clothe.”

Kenji is loath to go to the conference at Kilauea because he loathes volcanos.

Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression

Loath - loathe

Loath is an adjective meaning “reluctant,” “unwilling,” “averse,” “disinclined”:

“I am always loath to admit my mistakes.”

Loathe is a verb meaning “to detest,” “to abhor,” “to abominate,” “to feel disgust for”:

Most people loathe the rude jangling of an alarm clock.”