Both Uses of
loathe
in
Howards End
- Don't pretend you enjoyed lunch, for you loathed it, but forgive me by coming again, alone, or by asking me to you.†
Part 9loathed = detested or intensely disliked
- I mean he may be, but it would be loathsome stuff.†
Part 16 *loathsome = disgusting or very bad
Definition:
hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Word Confusion: Do not confuse loathe with loath which sounds very similar or the same. Loathe is a verb while loath is an adjective describing "reluctance or unwillingness to do something." Note that loathing and loathsome are forms of the verb loathe even though both word forms lack the "e". Occasionally, you will see loath spelled as loathe even in a published book, but it is rare enough that it is generally considered an error rather than a non-standard spelling.