disgusting
Meaning
Arousing revulsion or strong indignation; extremely unpleasant or offensive.
Structure
Usage
The smell from the dumpster was absolutely disgusting.
I find his racist comments utterly disgusting.
She left the disgusting, moldy food in the fridge for weeks.
Etymology
The word 'disgusting' originates from the early 17th century, derived from the Middle French 'desgouster' (to distaste). Its core, the Latin 'gustus' (taste), is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European ǵews- (to taste, to try). The prefix 'dis-' intensifies the notion of a strong aversion, literally suggesting something is "distasteful" or "against one's taste." Over time, the meaning expanded metaphorically from a literal physical revulsion against taste to encompass any powerful feeling of loathing or offense triggered by sights, sounds, ideas, or behaviors, solidifying its modern abstract sense.
Analysis
- dis: A Latin prefix meaning "apart, asunder, having a negative or reversing force." In this word, it acts as an intensifier. - gust: From Latin gustus, meaning "taste." It functions as the core root conveying the sense of tasting or relishing. - ing: An Old English suffix used to form present participles and adjectives from verbs, indicating a quality or state.