Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state of being loath; unwillingness; reluctance.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Unwillingness; reluctance.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun unwillingness; reluctance

Etymologies

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Examples

  • They know how the bitter root of unbelief in their hearts springs up and defiles them and their duties; -- how effectually vanity works in their minds, and a secret loathness in their wills, in their best duties and most solemn acts of worship; besides innumerable other sinful distempers, that oftentimes get ground and place in their hearts.

    The Sermons of John Owen 1616-1683 1968

  • The man of fifty-four, become the biographer of his own youth, finds no loathness of self-respect to prevent his detailing the absurd adventures with which he diverted himself on the way.

    Classic French Course in English William Cleaver Wilkinson

  • And that thou mayst not throw away thy soul and so great a hope, through mere sloth and loathness to be at some pains for thy life, let the text, which hath been thy directory about the things that belong to thy peace, be also thy motive, as it gives thee to behold the Son of God weeping over such as would not know those things.

    The World's Great Sermons, Volume 02 Hooker to South Grenville Kleiser 1910

  • Sir, I profess to you truly that my loathness to give over writing now seems to myself a sign that I shall write no more.

    The Life of Dr. Donne. Paras. 1-49 1909

  • At the age of thirty-five he writes from his bed describing every detail of what he frantically calls 'a sickness which I cannot name or describe, 'and ends his letter:' I profess to you truly, that my loathness to give over now, seems to myself an ill sign that I shall write no more. '

    Figures of Several Centuries Arthur Symons 1905

  • When the family had retired after supper, and left us to talk on our particular affairs, I found the same indecision, the same loathness to bring our courtship to a period, as formerly.

    The Coquette, or, The History of Eliza Wharton: A Novel Founded on Fact 1797

  • By delay the sense of the obligation slackens and cools, and is in danger of wearing off; we thereby discover a loathness and backwardness to perform our vow; and qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit -- he who is not inclined to-day will be averse to-morrow.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon) 1721

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