horrendus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [hɔrˈrɛn.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [orˈrɛn.dus]^[1]

Forms

horrendus (feminine horrenda, neuter horrendum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is the gerundive of horreō “to shudder at”, “to be shuddered at”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Virgil, whom he dates 70–19 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant inspiring terror or awe, terrible, fearful, and in Virgil of persons, especially gods, awe-inspiring.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant dreadful, horrible.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it of what inspires dread or disgust.^[6] It survives in Italian orrendo, and gave English horrendous in the 1650s.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of the awe-inspiring.^[2][4]
• 1650s – English horrendous is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Terrible, dreadful, horrendous.^[2]
2. Awe-inspiring.^[2]

Related words

• horreō
• horror
• English horrendous

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press