deter

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēterreō (“deter, discourage”), from de (“from”) + terreō (“I frighten”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɪˈtɜː(ɹ)/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)

Verb

deter (third-person singular simple present deters, present participle deterring, simple past and past participle deterred)

1. (transitive) To prevent something from happening.
2. (transitive) To persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.
3. (transitive) To distract someone from something.
   • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 10.

     we have in following enquiry, attempted to throw some light upon subjects, from which uncertainty has hitherto deterred the wise

Further reading

• deter in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• deter in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• deter at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• treed

Etymology

From Old Portuguese detẽer, from Latin dētinēre, present active infinitive of dētineō (“detain”).

Verb

deter (first-person singular present deteño, first-person singular preterite detiven, past participle detido)

1. to detain, stop
2. first-person singular personal infinitive of deter
3. third-person singular personal infinitive of deter

Etymology

From Old Portuguese detẽer, from Latin dētinēre, present active infinitive of dētineō (“detain”).

Verb

deter (first-person singular present indicative detenho, past participle detido)

1. to stop, arrest, detain, restrain
2. to deter
3. to withhold