horrible

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Adjective 1.4.1 Related terms 1.4.2 Translations 1.4.3 References 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Adjective 3 Spanish 3.1 Adjective 3.1.1 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

First attested in Middle English^[1] (alternately as horrible and orrible)^[2] in 1303^[3]: from Old French^[1][2] horrible^[3], from Latin horribilis^[1][2][3], from horr(ēre) (“‘bristle with fear^[2][3]; shudder^[3]; stand on end^[2]; tremble^[1]’”) + -ibilis (“‘-ible’”)^[2].

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈhɔɹɪbl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

horrible (plural horribles)

1. A thing that causes horror; a terrifying thing, particularly a prospective bad consequence asserted as likely to result from an act.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick

     Here's a carcase. I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing. Such a waggish leering as lurks in all your horribles!

   • 1982, United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, The Genocide Convention: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate

     A lot of the possible horribles conjured up by the people objecting to this convention ignore the plain language of this treaty.

   • 1991, Alastair Scott, Tracks Across Alaska: A Dog Sled Journey

     The pot had previously simmered skate wings, cods' heads, whales, pigs' hearts and a long litany of other horribles.

   • 2000, John Dean, CNN interview, January 21, 2000:

     I'm trying to convince him that the criminal behavior that's going on at the White House has to end. And I give him one horrible after the next. I just keep raising them. He sort of swats them away.

   • 2001, Neil K. Komesar, Law's Limits: The Rule of Law and the Supply and Demand of Rights

     Many scholars have demonstrated these horribles and contemplated significant limitations on class actions.

2. A person wearing a comic or grotesque costume in a parade of horribles.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

horrible (comparative more horrible, superlative most horrible)

1. Causing horror; terrible; shocking.
   • 1953, Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451:

     Some of us have had plastic surgery on our faces and fingerprints. Right now we have a horrible job; we're waiting for the war to begin and, as quickly, end.

   • 1949, J. D. Salinger, The Laughing Man:

     Strangers fainted dead away at the sight of the Laughing Man's horrible face. Acquaintances shunned him.

2. Tremendously wrong or errant.
   • 1933, James Thurber, My Life and Hard Times:

     Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.

[edit] Related terms

• horrific
• horrify
• horror
• horrendous

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1·1)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

horrible (plural: horribles)

1. horrible; causing horror.

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[edit] Spanish

[edit] Adjective

horrible m. and f. (plural horribles)

1. horrible

[edit] Related terms

• horriblemente
• horror