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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.

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 Compl. 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 Maitl. F. 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 Ib. 36265.
To caus all man for to detaist sic thing a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 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 Maitl. F. xxviii. 4.
Proudnes deteist, invy fra thé far chace 1600-1610 Melvill 429.
Ah! flashar tyk, whom all the land deteasts [: beasts] 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