deter
see also: Deter
Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēterreō, from de ("from") + terreō ("I frighten").

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /dɪˈtɜː(ɹ)/
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.
    Their boss deterred them from both taking holidays at the same time, claiming he couldn't manage it all on his own.
  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, published 1973, § 10:
      we have in following enquiry, attempted to throw some light upon subjects, from which uncertainty has hitherto deterred the wise
Synonyms
  • (To persuade someone to not do something) dissuade
Related terms Translations Translations Translations
Deter
Etymology

Borrowed from German Deter.

Proper noun
  1. Surname.



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