DETER
What does "DETER" mean?
To discourage someone from doing something, usually by making them fear the consequences.
Meanings
- To discourage or prevent a person from acting, typically through fear or doubt. Bright lighting in the car park helps deter thieves.
- To prevent the occurrence of something by instilling fear of the outcome. The treaty was meant to deter the use of nuclear weapons. formal
Did you know?
- To deter is, etymologically, to scare off: the word hides the Latin 'terrere', 'to frighten' - the same root that gives us 'terror' and 'terrible'.
Word origin
From Latin 'deterrere', from 'de-' (away) plus 'terrere' (to frighten) - literally 'to frighten away'.
Remember it
DETER literally means to frighten away - it shares its core with TERROR and TERRIBLE.
A little poem
No lock was raised, no army drew its sword-
the threat alone was all the wall they could afford.
couplet
What it teaches
The strongest defence may never be used: a credible threat works best when it stays unneeded.
Quick facts
What does DETER mean?
To discourage someone from doing something, usually by making them fear the consequences.
Is DETER a valid word?
Yes — DETER is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is DETER?
DETER has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does DETER come from?
From Latin 'deterrere', from 'de-' (away) plus 'terrere' (to frighten) - literally 'to frighten away'.
What can DETER teach us?
The strongest defence may never be used: a credible threat works best when it stays unneeded.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.