Word of the Day - 10/25/25
execrable
/'ɛksəkrəbəl/(adj.): of very poor quality or condition
The service at the restaurant was execrable, with long waits and cold food.
(adj.): unequivocally detestable
His execrable comments revealed a truly detestable character.
Word Origin
The word 'execrable' originates from Latin 'execrabilis', meaning 'detestable' or 'accursed'. This in turn comes from the verb 'execrari', meaning 'to detest' or 'to curse'. 'Execrari' is formed from 'ex-' (meaning 'out' or 'thoroughly') and 'sacrare' (meaning 'to dedicate' or 'to consecrate', but in this context often implying dedication to evil or cursing). Thus, 'execrable' literally means 'that which can be cursed out' or 'utterly detestable'.
Words with similar origins include 'execrate' (directly from the Latin verb 'execrari'), 'sacred' (from Latin 'sacer', related to 'sacrare'), 'consecrate' (from Latin 'con-' + 'sacrare'), and 'desecrate' (from Latin 'de-' + 'sacrare').