Etymologically
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terrificus

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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