abominable: [14] The Latin original of this word meant ‘shun as an evil omen’. The prefix ab- ‘away’ was added to ōmen (source of English omen) to produce the verb abōminārī. From this was created the adjective abōminābilis, which reached English via Old French. From the 14th to the 17th century there was a general misapprehension that abominable was derived from Latin ab hominem ‘away from man’, hence ‘beastly, unnatural’.
This piece of fanciful folk etymology not only perpetuated the erroneous spelling abhominable throughout this period, but also seems to have contributed significantly to making the adjective much more strongly condemnatory. => omen
mid-14c., from Old French abominable (12c.) and directly from Late Latin abominabilis "deserving abhorrence," from stem of Latin abominari "deplore as an evil omen" (see abomination). Sometimes misdivided in earlier centuries as a bominable. Also often abhominable 14c.-17c. Related: Abominably.
双语例句
1. The President described the killings as an abominable crime.
总统称这些血案为令人发指的罪行。
来自柯林斯例句
2. English food can be wonderful but the normal English diet is abominable.
英国也有美食，只是一般的日常饮食太过糟糕。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The judge described the attack as an abominable crime.
法官称那次袭击为令人发指的罪行。
来自《权威词典》
4. Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.
他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶.
来自《简明英汉词典》
5. The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.
