A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1610
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Detest, v. Also: detaist, det(e)ist, deteast. [e.m.E. (1533–4), L. dētestāre.]
1. tr. To detest, abhor, abominate.(a) a1500 Henr. Orph. 564.
Of syn detestand the abusioun 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 43/16.
Quhar for the maist anciant nobilis … detestit vrbanite, and desirit to lyue in villagis 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest To Rdr.
Al men detestand aspectioun, speche or communication with thame a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxix. 107.
Pauchtie pryde richt sair I do detest(b) 1535 Stewart 17390.
The thing … To hait, detaist, and hald richt odeous … Is inwart stryffe 1535 Ib. 36265.
To caus all man for to detaist sic thing a1585 Maitland Maitland Quarto MS xi. 68.
Then all the warld sall thé detaist and hait(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 38/2.
It is nocht wnknawn … that I detistit in all tymes bygaine seditioun a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xxviii. 4.
Proudnes deteist, invy fra thé far chace 1600-1610 Melvill 429.
Ah! flashar tyk, whom all the land deteasts [: beasts] 1600-1610 Ib. 430.
Thir murders to deteast [: east]
2. To execrate, denounce. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 62.
He began, be lang orisone, to detest the insolence … of the kingis sonnis
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"Detest v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/detest>
