Disgust, n.
Etymology: [Cf. OF. desgoust, F. dégoût. See Disgust, v. t.]
Repugnance to what is offensive; aversion or displeasure produced by something loathsome; loathing; strong distaste; -- said primarily of the sickening opposition felt for anything which offends the physical organs of taste; now rather of the analogous repugnance excited by anything extremely unpleasant to the moral taste or higher sensibilities of our nature; as, an act of cruelty may excite disgust. The manner of doing is more consequence than the thing done, and upon that depends the satisfaction or disgust wherewith it is received. Locke. In a vulgar hack writer such oddities would have excited only disgust. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Nausea; loathing; aversion; distaste; dislike; disinclination; abomination. See Dislike.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Disgust, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Disgusting.]
To provoke disgust or strong distaste in; to cause (any one) loathing, as of the stomach; to excite aversion in; to offend the moral taste of; -- often with at, with, or by. To disgust him with the world and its vanities. Prescott. Ærius is expressly declared . . . to have been disgusted at failing. J. H. Newman. Alarmed and disgusted by the proceedings of the convention. Macaulay.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for disgust; he lists it under abomination, antipathy.
Where he writes about it:
Choice food may be an object of aversion and disgust to a sick person; vile food would be an abomination. — from abomination
A toad is to many an object of disgust; a foul sewer is an abomination. — from abomination
Antagonism may result from the necessity of circumstances; opposition may spring from conflicting views or interests; abhorrence and detestation may be the result of religious and moral training; distaste and disgust may be acquired; aversion is a deep and permanent dislike. — from antipathy