Les objets du dégoût
The Troubles of Disgust

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the etymological relationship between disgust and other emotions and is the first part of a more extensive study analyzing the etymologies of words denoting disgust in Indo-European languages. We have established that a considerable part of the words denoting disgust come from primary notions related to other emotions. The origin of words of disgust is also linked to words having the meaning of fear (5 roots), boredom (3 roots), hatred (2 roots), sadness (2 roots), anger (1 root), pride (1 root), and discontent (1 root). Fear is the emotion most often etymologically linked to disgust: 5 of 15 roots show a semantic evolution from a primary meaning of ‘fear’. Basic disgust, that of pathogen avoidance, and the fear of disease and death are very closely related, and this fact is reflected in the history of the words.

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