What does loathsome mean in this context
what with loathsome smells, and shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth, that living mortals, hearing them, run mad;
1 answer
In this context, "loathsome" means disgusting, repulsive, or revolting. It is describing the smells and sounds that are so unpleasant or horrifying that they cause people to become disgusted or scared to the point of madness.