Etymologically
Log in

terrificus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word terrificus

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Lucretius
Ultimate origin
Latin (terreō,faciō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin terreo
Latin terrificus
English terrific
Latin terribilis
English terrible

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [tɛrˈrɪ.fɪ.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [terˈriː.fi.kus][1]

Forms

terrificus (feminine terrifica, neuter terrificum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin terreō (“to frighten”) + -ficus,[2] a compound of terreō and faciō “to make”.[3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lucretius, describing the Curetes, speaks of their terrifying crests.[3][6] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.[7]

Semantic evolution

It meant causing terror, frightening, awe-inspiring, and was mainly poetic.[2][3] Ovid uses it of Jupiter's terrifying hair, Virgil of prophets, and Valerius Flaccus of a rite.[3] In prose Pliny the Younger speaks of frightening prophecies, and Gellius of a terrifying roar.[3][4]

British medieval writers used it of terrifying commands.[8] English terrific is recorded in the 1660s, in Milton, as “frightening”; its sense “excellent” dates from 1888.[5]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of terrifying crests.[3][7]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of prophets.[3][7]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of a roar.[4][7]
  • 1660s – English terrific is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Frightening, terrifying, awe-inspiring.[2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  8. ^ 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

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Terrificus.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/terrificus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·