abomination
abomination
Pronunciation
Here's the IPA phonetic spelling of "abomination" for American English, along with a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
əˌbɑməˈneɪʃən
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ab (əˌbɑ):
ə (schwa): a central vowel sound, like the "uh" in "but"
b (b): voiced bilabial plosive consonant, pronounced by stopping airflow completely with both lips, then releasing
ɑ (ah): open back rounded vowel sound, like the "a" in "father"
om (ə): ə (schwa): a central vowel sound, like the "uh" in "but"
i (mə): m (m): voiced bilabial nasal consonant, pronounced by closing your lips and letting air resonate through your nose
ə (schwa): a central vowel sound, like the "uh" in "but"
na (ne): n (n): voiced
Word Form Variations
"Abomination" primarily functions as a singular noun. It refers to a single thing that's considered extremely disgusting, offensive, vile, or morally reprehensible. Here's a breakdown of its limited variations:
Singular: abomination (This is the most common form)
Plural: abominations (This is simply adding an "s" to the singular form to indicate more than one abomination)
There are no commonly used verb or adverb forms derived directly from "abomination." However, you can use adverbs to modify the adjective "abominable" which is related to "abomination."
For example:
They witnessed an utterly abominable sight. (adverb modifying the adjective)
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Word Forms and Definitions for "Abomination"
1. Noun:
Definition: A thing or act that is considered extremely disgusting, offensive, vile, or morally reprehensible. (This aligns with the common understanding of the word.)
Synonyms: Desecration, monstrosity, obscenity, perversion, sacrilege, travesty, outrage, atrocity
Antonyms: Beauty, decency, purity, virtue, righteousness
2. (Informal) Adjective:
Definition: Extremely disgusting, offensive, vile, or morally reprehensible. (This is an informal usage derived from the noun.)
Synonyms: Appalling, awful, dreadful, egregious, horrific, revolting, sickening, terrible
Antonyms: Beautiful, decent, pleasant, pure, virtuous
Note: There are no commonly used verb or adverb forms derived directly from "abomination." You can, however, use adverbs to modify the adjective form ("abominable").
For example:
The sight of the battlefield was utterly abominable (adverb modifying the adjective).
Examples of Use
Here are some real-world examples of how "abomination" is used across various mediums:
1. Books:
"The stench from the alleyway was an abomination." (Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist)
2. Newspapers:
"The human rights violations documented in the report are an abomination that demands immediate action." (The Guardian, online article)
3. Online Publications:
"The company's latest product is an abomination of design and functionality." (Tech review website)
4. Entertainment Mediums:
In a fantasy novel, a character might exclaim, "Those creatures are an abomination!" upon encountering monstrous beings.
A horror movie title could be "The Abomination" hinting at a terrifying entity.
5. Public Discourse:
A protestor might hold a sign that reads "War is an abomination!"
During a heated political debate, one politician might accuse the other of proposing "abominable policies."
6. Historical Context:
"The destruction of cultural artifacts by the invading army was considered an abomination by the local population." (Historical documentary)
7. Religious Context:
Depending on the religion, certain practices might be considered abominations. For example, some religions might view the consumption of pork as an abomination.
These examples showcase the flexibility of "abomination" across different contexts. It can be used literally to describe something disgusting, or figuratively to express strong disapproval of something considered morally wrong.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Abomination
While "abomination" isn't the most common word in famous quotes, here are ten interesting examples that use the term in various contexts:
"A war is never a good thing, but when the purposes of war are good, then war is not an abomination." - Winston Churchill (Speech at Harrow School, 1930)
"The human race has good points, but it also has a dark side. Cruelty, that is the great darkness. Man is capable of every abomination." - Agatha Christie (Murder on the Orient Express, 1934)
"A just war is hospitable to every self-deception on the part of those waging it, none more than the certainty of virtue, under whose shelter every abomination can be committed with a clear conscience." - Alexander Cockburn (Journalist, 20th century)
"There is no story that is not true, but perhaps all stories are not for all ears. And what is good among one people is an abomination with others." - Sefi Atta (Everything Good Will Come, 2005)
"The totalitarian state is not in itself a hell– but it is a potential hell. It is the place where man becomes an ant and God is an abomination." - Albert Camus (The Rebel, 1951)
"Ignorance is the mother of fear. Fear is the father of cruelty. Cruelty, by nature, is short-lived and self-consuming. Knowledge is the antidote to fear." - Stan Lee (X-Men comics, various issues) **(This quote uses "cruelty" as an antonym to knowledge, highlighting the concept of abomination indirectly) **
"War is kind. / The patriotic fever is a powerful inoculation against the miseries of war." - Stephen Crane (War is Kind, poem, 1899) **(This quote uses a sarcastic tone to portray war as an abomination) **
"Despair is contagious. Let it not slip from your heart into your voice and your actions." - Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Influence People, 1936) **(Similar to quote #6, this uses "despair" as an opposite to hope, implying a state that could be considered abominable) **
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates (Plato's Apology, ancient Greek philosophy) **(This quote reflects the idea that true abomination might stem from ignorance) **
"The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others." - Terry Pratchett (Discworld series, various novels) **(This fantasy quote reflects the relativity of what might be considered abominable) **
Etymology
The word "abomination" comes from a long journey through languages! Here's a simplified breakdown:
Origin story: It all started with the Latin word "omin," which meant something like "a sign" or "an omen." Back then, people believed certain signs could predict the future.
Adding a dislike: The Romans added "ab" to "omin," which means "away from" or "off." So, literally, "abominari" became "to turn away from an omen." Imagine a bad omen making you shudder!
French connection: The word hopped over to Old French as "abomination," which meant "horror" or "disgust." It was like something so awful, it turned you right off.
English borrows it: Finally, in the 1300s, English borrowed the word "abomination" from French. It kept the same meaning of something extremely disgusting, offensive, or evil.
So, "abomination" started as a way to talk about bad omens, and evolved into a word for anything we find utterly awful!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Abomination
Anathema: This refers to something that is utterly detested or cursed. It's similar to "abomination" in its strong disapproval.
Abominable act/crime: This phrase emphasises the horrific nature of an action.
Beyond the pale: This idiom describes something so shocking or unacceptable that it goes beyond any limits of decency.
A moral outrage: This phrase highlights the indignation caused by something considered morally wrong.
An eyesore: This refers to something visually offensive, similar to how something could be an abomination to the senses.
A travesty of justice/decency: This emphasises how something is a complete mockery of what's right and proper.
While not idioms in the strictest sense, you can also use adverbs to intensify the meaning of "abomination":
Utter abomination: This emphasises the complete and utter offensiveness of something.
Despicable abomination: This adds a layer of contempt to the word "abomination."
By creatively combining these related phrases and adverbs, you can effectively express the concept of something being a complete abomination.
Posts Related to Abomination
Source Information
Definition of abomination from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
