a. Also 6 lothefull, 5–6 lothful(l, 8–9 Sc. laithfu’. [f. LOATH sb. + -FUL.]
1. That is an object of loathing or disgust; hateful, loathsome. Now rare.
a. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 75. I lothfolest that levyth.
1481. Earl Worcester, Tulle of Old Age (Caxton), f 3 b. I demaunde you Scipion and Lelius if the olde age of such as delited them in the labourage of londes semyth unto you to be wretched or lothfull.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 280. Whosoeuer prepareth himself to praye, let hym be lothful to himself in his owne euils.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 735. And lothefull idlenes he doth detest.
1892. Times, 10 Nov., 3/5. The very Europeans whose presence is so loathful to every right-thinking Mussulman.
2. Reluctant, retiring, bashful. Obs. exc. Sc.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. xxv. (1634), 485. So that yet we bee not lothfull or wearie of long tarrying.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1314. Which when he did with lothfull eyes beholde.
1785. Burns, Cotter’s Sat. Nt., 6. But blate and laithfu’, scarce can weel behave.
1862. Hislop, Prov. Scot., 12. A landward lad is aye laithfu’.
Hence Loathfully adv., in a loathful manner, with reluctance. Loathfulness, the quality or condition of being loathful; reluctance.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. xii. 32. Proteus … reading it with inward loathfulnesse, Was grieved to restore the pledge he did possesse.
1887. Hissey, Holiday on Road, 57. There was nothing for it but to loathfully walk away.
