tremendous English · revision 10236

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1632|origins=la tremendus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɹɪˈmɛndəs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|tremendus|t=fearful, to be dreaded]], literally to be trembled at,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the gerundive of tremere, to tremble (see [[tremble]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) with the English suffix [[-ous]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) It first appeared as tremenduous (1632), later tremendous (1657–83).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Such as to cause trembling or awe; awful, dreadful, terrible: 1632.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The hyperbolic or intensive sense, extraordinarily great or good, immense, is first recorded in 1812, in Southey,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) paralleling the changes in [[terrific]], [[terrible]], [[dreadful]] and [[awful]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A slang use for something extraordinary in a quality given by the context is from 1831.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1632 – causing dread or awe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1812 – immense, extraordinary.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1831 – extraordinary in some quality (slang).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Extremely large in amount, extent or degree; [[enormous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Marvellous, wonderful or very exciting.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Such as to make one tremble; terrible.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==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.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}