horror English · revision 5193

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1325|origins=la horrēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈhɒr.ə/, US /ˈhɔːr.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|horer|alt=horer, orrour]], [[bor|fro|horror|alt=orror, horreur]], and directly from [[la|horror|t=a shaking, trembling; dread]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|horrēre|t=to bristle with fear, shudder]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*ghers-|t=to bristle]], the source also of Sanskrit hárṣate “he shudders”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The h in the spelling was restored after the Latin.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[horrible]], [[horrid]], [[horrify]] and [[hirsute]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A feeling of disgust: the early 14th century in Etymonline, before 1325 in Barnhart.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A painful emotion of loathing and fear, and also a thing that causes it, are from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In a literal sense it was used of roughness (1382) and, from 1533, of shivering, especially as a symptom of disease.^(OED 1989) Reverent fear or awe is from 1579.^(OED 1989) ''The horrors'', a fit of extreme depression, especially in delirium tremens, is from 1768.^(OED 1989) The ''chamber of horrors'' was originally, in 1849, a gallery of criminals in Madame Tussaud's.^(Etymonline) As a genre of film it is from 1934 in Etymonline, 1936 in MWU.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1325 – a feeling of disgust.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1375 – loathing and fear.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – shivering.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1768 – ''the horrors''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1849 – ''chamber of horrors''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – a film genre.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Intense fear and disgust; [[terror]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strong [[dislike]] or loathing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that causes horror.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A badly behaved person, especially a child.^(COED 2004)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A [[genre]] of films and books meant to frighten: ''a horror film''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[horror-struck]]

+ * [[chamber of horrors]]

+ * [[horror show]]

+ * [[horror story]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[horrendous]]

+ * [[horrible]]

+ * [[horrid]]

+ * [[horrific]]

+ * [[horrify]]

+ * [[abhor]]

+ * [[hirsute]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}