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