hideous
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English hidous, from Anglo-Norman hidous, from Old French hideus, hydus (“that which inspires terror”), from earlier hisdos, from hisda (“horror, fear”), of uncertain and disputed origin. Probably from Frankish *egisda, *egisida (“terror, fright”), from Proto-Germanic *agisiþō (“horror, terror”), from Proto-Germanic *agisōną (“to frighten, terrorise”), from Proto-Germanic *agaz (“terror, fear”), from Proto-Indo-European *aǵʰ-, *agʰ- (“to frighten”). Cognate with Old High German egisa, egidī (“horror”), Old English egesa (“fear, dread”), Gothic 𐌰𐌲𐌹𐍃 (agis, “fear, terror”).
Alternative etymology cites possbile derivation from Latin hispidosus (“rugged”), from hispidus (“rough, bristly”), yet the semantic evolution is less plausible.
Pronunciation [edit]
Adjective [edit]
hideous (comparative more hideous, superlative most hideous)
- Frightful; shocking; extremely ugly.
- A piteous and hideous spectacle." Thomas Babington Macaulay.
- Distressing or offensive to the ear; horrible.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- He started up, growling at first, but finding his leg broken, fell down again; and then got upon three legs, and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- Hateful; shocking.
- Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver. - William Shakespeare
Usage notes [edit]
- Nouns to which "hideous" is often applied: monster, creature, man, face, thing, crime, form, death, aspect, spectacle, picture, roar, sound, manner, way, disease, mistake, shape, dress, fact, act, smile.
Synonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
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