Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Abhor, v. Also: abhorre, abhore. [ME. abhorre (15th c.), L. abhorrēre.]

1. intr. To feel repugnance or strong dislike. Freq. with inf.c1475 Wall. vii. 468 (the Scottis abhord to byd). 1513 Doug. i. xii. 21 (my spreit abhorris to remember); ii. iv. 11 (abhorris to declare). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3397 (my toung abhorris to reheirs). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 304/9 (gif thay saw ȝow, thay suld abhor). c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 500 (it makis me abhor). 1596 Dalr. I. 97 (the Scottis bordirers to tile the land abhoris).

b. Const. with (= against).c1475 Wall. viii. 665 (he abhorryt with this thing). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 105/21 (scho abhorrit nocht with cruelteis). 1535 Stewart I. 358 heading.

c. To shrink or draw away, to deviate, fra or from.1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/21 (nathing abhorring fra the treuth); 62/33 (fra vitious leuing I abhorre). 1596 Dalr. I. 41/4 (thay ar said to abhor from that place); 50/5 (this kynde of fishe abhorris frome mudie water).

2. tr. To shrink back from; to regard with repugnance.1513 Doug. xiii. x. 48 (abhor thou nocht the fyre). 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1467 (that we suld be abhorde). c1552 Id. Mon. 4645 (for sic thing men ar nocht abhorrit). c1568 Lauder Misc. P. iii. 15 (the sons of Sathan abhorris that same). a1578 Pitsc. I. 89/3 (men that abhorit thir ciwell wearis). 1596 Dalr. I. 39/26 (ane foul that abhoris the presens of man). 1615 Highland P. III. 263 (whiche traid I abhore).

3. To fill with abhorrence.c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2795 (it wald abhore thé tyll heir).