Main Entry: ter·ri·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈter-ə-bəl, ˈte-rə-\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin terribilis, from terrēre to frighten — more at terror

Date: 15th century

1 a : exciting extreme alarm or intense fear : terrifying b : formidable in nature : awesome <a terrible responsibility> c : difficult <in a terrible bind>
2 : extreme, great <a terrible disappointment>
3 : extremely bad: as a : strongly repulsive : obnoxious <a terrible smell> b : notably unattractive or objectionable <terrible behavior> c : of very poor quality <a terrible movie>

— ter·ri·ble·ness noun

— ter·ri·bly \-blē\ adverb