Etymologically
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horribilis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 15:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [hɔrˈrɪ.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [orˈriː.bi.lis][1]

Forms

horribilis (neuter horribile, comparative horribilior, superlative horribilissimus, adverb horribiliter); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from horreō “to bristle, shudder” with the suffix -bilis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Accius, of something terrifying.[2] Köbler dates Accius 170–c. 90 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant terrifying, dreadful, as in Accius, and in Martial rough, uncouth.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant horrible, dreadful.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for bristly, rough, and of terrain wild, rugged.[6] It survives in Italian orribile, French and Spanish horrible and Portuguese horrível, and through Old French it gave English horrible about 1300.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it of the terrifying.[2][4]
  • 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of the uncouth.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English horrible is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Terrifying, dreadful, horrible.[2]
  2. Rough, uncouth.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Bristly; of terrain, rugged.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 c 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. ^ a b 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