I.v. dep. a.
I. In relig. lang.
A. To curse while calling a deity to witness, i. e. to execrate, abominate (for syn. cf.: “abominari, adversari, abhorrere, horrere, devovere, execrari): cum (te) viderunt, tamquam auspicium malum detestantur,” Cic. Vatin. 16, 39: omnibus precibus detestatus Ambiorigem, * Caes. B. G. 6, 31 fin.; cf.: “caput euntis hostili prece,” Ov. M. 15, 505: “dira exsecratio ac furiale carmen detestandae familiae stirpique compositum,” Liv. 10, 41: “exitum belli civilis,” Cic. Phil. 8, 2 fin. et saep.—
b. To call to witness, = testor, obtestor: “summum Jovem, deosque,” Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 60. —
B. To call down upon, denounce while invoking a deity: “minas periculaque in caput eorum,” Liv. 39, 10, 2: “deorum iram in caput infelicis pueri,” Plin. Ep. 2, 20, 6.—
C. To hate intensely, detest, abominate, abhor: “causam auctoremque cladis,” Tac. H. 2, 35 fin.: “civilia arma adeo detestari,” felt such abhorrence for, Suet. Oth. 10: “sortem populi Romani,” id. Claud. 3: viam pravam Vulg. Prov. 3, 13.—
II. Transf., to avert from one's self by entreaty, to ward off, avert, remove, sc. an evil from one's self or others, = deprecari, to deprecate: “ut a me quandam prope justam patriae querimoniam detester ac deprecer,” Cic. Cat. 1, 11: “memoriam consulatus tui a republica,” id. Pis. 40, 96: “invidiam,” id. N. D. 1, 44, 123: “o di immortales, avertite ac detestamini hoc omen,” id. Phil. 4, 4, 10.—
III. In judic. lang., to renounce solemnly or under oath: “detestatum est testatione denuntiatum,” Dig. 50, 16, 238; cf. “ib. § 40, and detestatio, II.: Servius Sulpicius in libro de sacris detestandis, etc.,” Gell. 7, 12, 1.!*? In a pass. sense, Ap. Mag. p. 307, 24; August. Ep. ad Macr. 255.—Esp., in the part. perf., detested, abominated: “detestata omnia ejusmodi repudianda sunt,” Cic. Leg. 2, 11, 28: “bella matribus detestata,” Hor. Od. 1, 1, 25.
