Lewis & Short

dē-testor, ātus, 1, v. dep. a.

  1. I. In relig. lang.
    1. A. To curse while calling a deity to witness, i. e. to execrate, abominate (for syn. cf.: abominari, adversari, abhorrere, horrere, devovere, execrari): cum (te) viderunt, tamquam auspicium malum detestantur, Cic. Vatin. 16, 39: omnibus precibus detestatus Ambiorigem, * Caes. B. G. 6, 31 fin.; cf.: caput euntis hostili prece, Ov. M. 15, 505: dira exsecratio ac furiale carmen detestandae familiae stirpique compositum, Liv. 10, 41: exitum belli civilis, Cic. Phil. 8, 2 fin. et saep.
        1. b. To call to witness, = testor, obtestor: summum Jovem, deosque, Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 60.
    2. B. To call down upon, denounce while invoking a deity: minas periculaque in caput eorum, Liv. 39, 10, 2: deorum iram in caput infelicis pueri, Plin. Ep. 2, 20, 6.
    3. C. To hate intensely, detest, abominate, abhor: causam auctoremque cladis, Tac. H. 2, 35 fin.: civilia arma adeo detestari, felt such abhorrence for, Suet. Oth. 10: sortem populi Romani, id. Claud. 3: viam pravam Vulg. Prov. 3, 13.
  2. II. Transf., to avert from one’s self by entreaty, to ward off, avert, remove, sc. an evil from one’s self or others, = deprecari, to deprecate: ut a me quandam prope justam patriae querimoniam detester ac deprecer, Cic. Cat. 1, 11: memoriam consulatus tui a republica, id. Pis. 40, 96: invidiam, id. N. D. 1, 44, 123: o di immortales, avertite ac detestamini hoc omen, id. Phil. 4, 4, 10.
  3. III. In judic. lang., to renounce solemnly or under oath: detestatum est testatione denuntiatum, Dig. 50, 16, 238; cf. ib. § 40, and detestatio, II.: Servius Sulpicius in libro de sacris detestandis, etc., Gell. 7, 12, 1.
    Note: In a pass. sense, Ap. Mag. p. 307, 24; August. Ep. ad Macr. 255.
    Esp., in the part. perf., detested, abominated: detestata omnia ejusmodi repudianda sunt, Cic. Leg. 2, 11, 28: bella matribus detestata, Hor. Od. 1, 1, 25.