古英語のlath（嫌う、憎む）から、PIE*leit（忌む）から、語源的にはドイツ語のleiden（耐える、我慢する、悲しむ）と同じ、PIE*leit（進む、導く、前進する）の原語源から、語源的にはlead（鉛）、lode（鉱脈）と同じ、ひいては語源的にはto part with（別れる）、to grieve（悲しむ）、最終的にはloathe（嫌う、憎む）。
英語の語源
loath (adj.)
Old English lae "hated; hateful; hostile; repulsive," from Proto-Germanic *laithaz (cognates: Old Saxon, Old Frisian leth "loathsome," Old Norse leier "hateful, hostile, loathed;" Middle Dutch lelijc, Dutch leelijk "ugly;" Old High German leid "sorrowful, hateful, offensive, grievous," German Leid "sorrow;" French laid "ugly," from Frankish (Germanic) *laid), from PIE root *leit- "to detest."
Weakened meaning "averse, disinclined" is attested from late 14c. Loath to depart, a line from some long-forgotten song, is recorded since 1580s as a generic term expressive of any tune played at farewells, the sailing of a ship, etc. Related: Loathness.
例文
1. I felt loath to sully the gleaming brass knocker by handling it.
私は手を伸ばしてそのピカピカの真鍮のドアのリングをつかむのが嫌で、それを汚すのが怖い。
2.He was loath to admit his mistake.
彼は自分の誤りを認めたくない。
＜dl>＜dt＞3.He is loath to get out of bed on cold mornings.