"she has an abhorrence of change"

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Raen

#511353 Thu, 08 May 08 08:01 PM

What does it mean?

This is a sentece given as an example under the entry "abhorrence" in Cambridge Dictionary Online. I understand (I think) it's definition of its adjetive form:

abhorrent (adj): morally very bad

but I have a hard time understanding the meaning of this sentence. Does it mean:

She hates changes (as in life events, lifestyle, etc). If so, I can't seem to connect the sentence to the definition of "abhorrence" which, according to the definition given above, I might translate to mean "moral badness"?

Could someone be kind enough to shed some light? Thank you

Raen

Joined on Thu, May 1 2008

Member (63)

Feebs11

#511357 Thu, 08 May 08 08:06 PM

To abhor something = detest; hate

ahhorrence = disgust, detestation.

There is not necessarily a moral aspect.

I have an abhorrence of snakes and spiders in the house.

Feebs11

Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006

Pre Guru (4,375)

Raen

#511361 Thu, 08 May 08 08:11 PM

Thank you so much Feebs.

It makes so much more sense if "moral" is taken out of the context. Now I understand.

But would you say the definition is inaccurate in the dictionary? Thanks.

Raen

khoff

#511364 Thu, 08 May 08 08:25 PM

If so, I can't seem to connect the sentence to the definition of "abhorrence" which, according to the definition given above, I might translate to mean "moral badness"?

It's not that "abhorrence means "moral badness" -- "abhorrence" is the reaction or revulsion people would have to moral badness. But people could have a similar strong reaction to other things as well. "Abhorrent" means "so bad that it causes people to feel revulsion or disgust"

I think the dictionary definition is confusing. The idea is that the adjective "abhorrent' describes something that most people would find hateful and detestable. The dictionary definition assumes that if most people would hate and detest something, it must be "morally bad."

I suppose that the adjective does often carry a connotation of immorality -- if you say "his actions were abhorrent," it implies that they were really bad. But the noun, "abhorrence," can describe an aversion or hatred of something without any moral basis -- like an abhorrence of snakes or spiders.