Abhor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abhorred; p. pr. & vb. n. Abhorring.]
Etymology: [L. abhorrere; ab + horrere to bristle, shiver, shudder: cf. F. abhorrer. See Horrid.]
1. To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or detestation; to feel excessive repugnance toward; to detest to extremity; to loathe. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Rom. xii. 9.
2. To fill with horror or disgust. [Obs.] It doth abhor me now I speak the word. Shak.
3. (Canon Law)
To protest against; to reject solemnly. [Obs.] I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul Refuse you for my judge. Shak.
1 more senses
Syn. -- To hate; detest; loathe; abominate. See Hate.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Abhor, v. i.
To shrink back with horror, disgust, or dislike; to be contrary or averse; -- with from. [Obs.] "To abhor from those vices." Udall. Which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law. Milton.
Shades of meaning
Abhor is stronger than despise, implying a shuddering recoil, especially a moral recoil. "How many shun evil as inconvenient who do not abhor it as hateful." TRENCH Serm. in Westm. Abbey xxvi, 297. [M.] Detest expresses indignation, with something of contempt. Loathe implies disgust, physical or moral. We abhor a traitor, despise a coward, detest a liar. We dislike an uncivil person. We abhor cruelty, hate tyranny. We loathe a reptile or a flatterer. We abhor Milton's heroic Satan, but we can not despise him.