/deter-meaning

/deter/

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: dɪtɜː(r). 

-) Etymology: from Latin dēterrēre (to frighten from or away), analysed into de- + terrēre (to frighten, terrify). 

-) Preterite tense: deterred. Preterite participle: deterred.

-) Present participle: deterring.

-) Documented since 1500.

-) Transitively: 1. To cause deterrence in (someone); to discourage through fear; to make abstain or desist from something by fear of the consequence, of the risk, of the difficulty, etc.

-) Synonyms for “deter”: discourage, restrain, keep back, prevent.

-) Translation: décourager, in French; acobardar, in Spanish; scoraggiare, in Italian.

Cecilia was turning back to answer this reproach, but the sight of Lady Honoria, who was entering at the other door, deterred her, and she went on.

Burney… Cecilia… 1782

Alizon's first impulse was to catch the child in her arms, and press her to her bosom; but there was something in Jennet's look that deterred her, and so embarrassed her, that she was unable to bestow upon her the ordinary greeting of affection, or even approach her.

W. Ainsworth… The Lancashire Witches… 1848

… during the tumult we saw a sturdy fellow struggling towards us, as though to get a front view. The man, whose face I thought I had seen before, was not deterred by slight obstacles, and by dint of using his elbows vigorously, and treading on his neighbors' corns, he soon got within a few feet of us.

W. Thomes… The gold hunters’ adventures… 1890

-) With the preposition “from” + a noun or a gerund:

I intended to visit these places; but was prevented by an unexpected change of weather, which deterred me from going to the country.

T. Smollett… Travels Through France and Italy… 1766

… the south and west winds were found commonly to blow very strong, which prevented vessels from weathering it, and deterred others from the attempt.

J. Grant… Voyage of Discovery… 1803

To conclude, I must say, that I risked my life and character on the event of the voyage, and sailed from England with very little assistance, her inferior size and peculiar construction having deterred those who might have been of the most use from engaging to sail in her.

J. Grant… Voyage of Discovery… 1803

It may be said that this man lives, and is deterred from making himself known, through dread of being charged with the murder.  

Poe… The Mystery… 1842

… instead of proving that the irrational agent—whether a brute or a madman—can never be deterred from any act by apprehension of punishment (as, for instance, a dog from sheep-biting, by fear of being beaten), you prove that…

J. Mill… A System of Logic… 1843

-) English words derived from DETER: deterrence, determent, deterrable, deterrent, deterring.

-) Words derived from Latin terrēre: see TERRIBLE.