What does loathe mean as it is used in these lines from "The Diary of Anne Frank"?
I don't think I shall ever feel really at home in this house, but that does not mean that I loathe it here, it is more like being on vacation in a very peculiar boardinghouse.
A.
enjoy
B.
like
C.
indifferent
D.
despise
D. despise
The word "loathe" in the given context means "D. despise." In the lines from "The Diary of Anne Frank," the author is expressing that she does not feel at home in the house, but she does not have a strong hatred or extreme dislike for it either. Instead, she describes it as feeling like she is on vacation in a unique boardinghouse.
In order to understand the meaning of the word "loathe" as it is used in these lines from "The Diary of Anne Frank," we can use various strategies. One effective approach is to analyze the surrounding context to gain insight into the author's intention.
In this excerpt, Anne Frank states that she doesn't feel truly at home in the house she is staying in, but she clarifies that this lack of comfort does not mean she "loathe[s]" it. She compares her experience to being on vacation in a unique boardinghouse.
From this context, we can infer that the opposite of "loathe" would be a more positive sentiment. "Loathe" has a strong negative connotation, indicating an intense dislike or disgust towards something. Therefore, options A (enjoy), B (like), and C (indifferent) can be eliminated since they do not convey a negative sentiment.
The correct answer is D, despise, which is synonymous with "loathe" and represents a strong aversion or hatred. Anne Frank is clarifying that even though she doesn't feel completely at home, she does not despise or intensely dislike her current living situation.