terribile Italian · revision 38030

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1268|origins=la terreō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /terˈri.bi.le/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''terribile''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural terribili)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|terribilis|t=frightening]], from [[m|la|terreō|t=to frighten, terrify]] with the suffix [[m|la|-bilis]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) The Latin adjective is found from Ennius on.^(de Vaan 2008)^(DEI|3766) The same word is [[fr|terrible]], recorded from the 12th century, and [[es|terrible]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3766)^(Körting 1907) [[scn|tirribìliu]] “turmoil, commotion” and its Abruzzese counterpart are semi-learned outcomes of the Latin neuter plural [[m|la|terribilis|alt=terribilia|t=terrible things]], which DEI also sees behind [[strabiliare]].^(DEI|3766)

+

+ DELI and Devoto connect [[m|la|terreō]] with a root meaning “to tremble”, as in [[terrore]] and [[tremare]].^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto 1968) De Vaan follows the LIV in reconstructing [[itc-pro|*troseje-]] and [[ine-pro|*tros-éye-|t=to make afraid]], with a regular development in Latin, and relates it to [[grc|τρέω|tr=tréō|t=to tremble, flee]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Zingarelli dates the first record to 1268 and GRADIT to 1295.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Bono Giamboni describes a huge black-armed knight as ''terrìbole a vedere'' “terrible to see”, and Dante (1300–1313) sees in a ditch of Hell ''terribile stipa / di serpenti'' “a terrible throng of serpents”, in the sense “causing terror”.^(GDLI|20, 956)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian had the forms ''terìbele'', ''terrìbele'', ''terrìbere'' and ''terrìbole''.^(GDLI|20, 956) The sense “too severe, pitiless” is recorded in the 14th-century Italian translation of Gregory the Great, and the noun ''terribilità'', from Late Latin ''terribilitas'', in the 14th century.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) In 1560 Vasari uses the word in a positive sense, for what is remarkable or extraordinary, and Tommaseo–Bellini (1879) has the hyperbolic sense “very strong, excessive”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Today it is also used jokingly of a lively, unruly child, and hyperbolically of any discomfort, as in ''un freddo terribile'' “terrible cold”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1268 – First record.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 1300–1313 – Dante uses ''terribile'' “causing terror”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – The sense “too severe, pitiless”, in the translation of Gregory the Great.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Terribilità'' is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1560 – Vasari uses it of what is extraordinary, in a positive sense.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1879 – Tommaseo–Bellini records the sense “very strong, excessive”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Causing [[terrore|alt=terror]] or great fear; of devastating strength: ''Nella notte si sentì un urlo terribile.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Causing anguish or distress: ''Sono state settimane terribili per tutta la famiglia.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Of a person, pitiless, cruel; very [[m|en|severe]]: ''Il nuovo allenatore è terribile con chi arriva tardi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(jocular)'' Of a child, very lively and unruly: ''Quel bambino è terribile, non sta fermo un minuto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(hyperbolic)'' Very intense, said especially of something unpleasant; [[m|en|awful]], dreadful: ''Mi sono svegliato con un terribile mal di gola.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Extraordinary, exceptional, of a positive quality: ''Quella ragazza ha una grinta terribile.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[terribilità]]

+ * [[terribilmente]]

+ * [[terribilezza]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[terrore]]

+ * [[atterrire]]

+ * [[fr|terrible]]

+ * [[la|terreo]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different and now obsolete ''terribile'' was a popular alteration of [[turibolo]] “thurible, censer”, used in the 14th century.^(GDLI|20, 957)^(DEI|3766)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Franco Sacchetti tells of a cleric who is asked by a cardinal what a ''terribilis'' is and, frightened by such a terrible name, cannot answer.^(GDLI|20, 957)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}