loath Hear it!

loath Definition

loath (lōt̸h, lōt̸h)

adjective

unwilling; reluctant: usually followed by an infinitive to be loath to depart

Etymology: ME loth < OE lath, hostile, hateful, akin to Ger leid, sorrow (orig. adj.) < IE base *leit-, to detest, abhor > Gr aleitēs, sinner

Related Forms:

loath Idioms

nothing loath

not reluctant(ly); willing(ly)
loath Synonyms

loath

modif.

averse, indisposed, disinclined; see opposed, reluctant, unwilling. See syn. study at reluctant.

loath Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • admit: Talking of lighting, I'm loath to admit that we nearly fused all the lights with a faulty kettle!
  • let: The devil is loath to let us go too far, lest Christ get a subject into his kingdom.
  • leave: My brothers left the farm when they came of age, but I stayed a year longer, loath to leave home.
  • lose: In fact many funds are loath to lose the ' illiquidity premium ' of real estate by joining pooled vehicles.
  • give: Obviously the Belgians were loath to give land over to the enemy's dead.
  • go: I linger by the fire, loath to go to bed.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: They all recognize the importance of consumption, but most seem loath to discuss the details.
  • do: One of his rather uninspiring quotes was: " How I did loath that journey around the world!

Modifying Another Word

  • very: PIPES: The CIA was very loath to deal with issues which could not be demonstrated in a kind of mathematical form.
  • so: No wonder the political parties are so loath to get involved.
  • often: Unless faced will ` real life ' situations developers are often loath to modify code or their work practices.
  • not: The young man was not loath to take the hint.
  • still: Clearly members wanted management but were still loath to give ' management ' any power.
  • now: Which may just explain both why the Chumash are now loath to discuss it.
loath Quotes

Two evils, monstrous either one apart, Possessed me, and were long and loath at going: A cry of Absence, Absence, in the heart, And in the wood the furious winter blowing.

—Ransom,John Crowe

I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the L, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loath yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

—Bible (Old Testament)