terror English · revision 6706

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=la terreo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɛɹə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈtɛɹɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English terroure, [[bor|fro|terrour|alt=terreur, terrour]] and directly [[bor|la|terror|t=great fear, dread]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|terreo|alt=terrēre|t=to fill with fear, frighten]] (see [[terrible]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) cognate with [[grc|τρέω|tr=tréō|t=to tremble, flee]] and [[sa|त्रसति|tr=trásati|t=he trembles]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Great fear: about 1375 in Barnhart and the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Etymonline's first sense, from the early 15th century, is something that intimidates, an object of fear.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The quality of causing dread is from the 1520s.^(Etymonline) ''King of terrors'', death, is from 1611.^(OED 1989) The ''Reign of Terror'' in France, from March 1793 to July 1794, when the ruling faction executed anyone in its way, has been so called in English since 1801;^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) the phrase came to be used of any brutal exercise of power.^(Cresswell 2021)^(OED 1989) A person who causes alarm, often a naughty child, is a humorous use from 1883.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Terror bombing'' is recorded by 1941, of the German attack on Rotterdam,^(Etymonline) and terror as violence used for political ends, short for [[terrorism]], is a modern sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) Old English words for terror included broga and egesa.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – intense fear.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1520s – the quality of causing dread.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1611 – the king of terrors.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1801 – the Reign of Terror.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1883 – a troublesome person.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1941 – terror bombing.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Intense, overpowering fear.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing that causes great fear.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Violence or threats used to intimidate a population for political ends; [[terrorism]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A troublesome or annoying person, especially a child.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[terrorless]]

+ * [[terrorful]]

+ * [[bioterror]]

+ * [[counterterror]]

+ * [[terrorise]]

+ * [[terrorism]]

+ * [[terrorist]]

+ * [[terrorize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[terrible]]

+ * [[terrific]]

+ * [[terrify]]

+ * [[deter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}