tremendous

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tɹɪˈmɛndəs/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin tremendus (“fearful, to be dreaded”), literally to be trembled at,^[2][3] the gerundive of tremere, to tremble (see tremble),^[2][3][4] with the English suffix -ous.^[3][5] It first appeared as tremenduous (1632), later tremendous (1657–83).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Such as to cause trembling or awe; awful, dreadful, terrible: 1632.^[6][3][7]

Semantic evolution

The hyperbolic or intensive sense, extraordinarily great or good, immense, is first recorded in 1812, in Southey,^[3][2][6] paralleling the changes in terrific, terrible, dreadful and awful.^[2][3] A slang use for something extraordinary in a quality given by the context is from 1831.^[6]

Timeline

• 1632 – causing dread or awe.^[6]
• 1812 – immense, extraordinary.^[6]
• 1831 – extraordinary in some quality (slang).^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Extremely large in amount, extent or degree; enormous.
2. (informal) Marvellous, wonderful or very exciting.
3. (archaic) Such as to make one tremble; terrible.

Word family

• tremendously
• tremendousness
• untremendous

Related words

• tremble
• tremor
• trepidation
• intrepid
• horrendous
• stupendous

Usage notes

In Scots and in some English dialects, tremendous was also used as an adverb, very or exceedingly.^[8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)