Question

What is the best meaning of "execrated" as it is used in the following passage on page 83?

"[Justine] was dressed in mourning, and her countenance, always engaging, was rendered, by the solemnity of her
feelings, exquisitely beautiful. Yet she appeared confident in innocence and did not tremble, although gazed on and
execrated by thousands, for all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have excited was obliterated in the
minds of the spectators by the imagination of the enormity she was supposed to have committed."
O A feared
O
B. beloved
O C. ignored
O D. detested

Answer 1

The best meaning of 'execrated' in the given passage is 'detested'. Justine is gazed on and hated by thousands of spectators because of the enormity she is supposed to have committed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best meaning of 'execrated' in the given passage is detested. The passage describes how Justine, despite being beautiful and appearing confident in her innocence, is gazed on and detested by thousands of spectators. The kindness that her beauty might have otherwise inspired is obliterated by the spectators' imagination of the enormity she is supposed to have committed. 'Execrated' here means that Justine is despised and hated by the crowd.

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