terrific

English

Alternative forms

• terrifick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin terrificus (“causing terror”), from terrere (“to frighten, terrify”) + -ficus, from facere (“to make”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪfɪk

Adjective

terrific (comparative more terrific, superlative most terrific)

1. (colloquial) Frighteningly good.

   I say! She's a terrific tennis player.

2. (colloquial) Astounding or awesome.

   The car came round the bend at a terrific speed.

3. Terrifying; causing terror

   The lightning was followed by a terrific clap of thunder.

4. Frightful or very unpleasant.

   I've got a terrific hangover this morning.

5. (colloquial) Extraordinarily great or intense.

   terrific speed

Synonyms

• brilliant
• horrific

Related terms

• terrible
• terrify
• terrifying
• terror
• terrorist
• terrorize

Translations

frighteningly good

• French: formidable (fr), fantastique (fr)
• German: fantastisch (de)
• Hungarian: fantasztikus (hu)
• Italian: eccezionale (it), stupendo (it)

• Polish: świetny m, wspaniały m
• Portuguese: formidável (pt), estupendo (pt), fantástico (pt)
• Spanish: estupendo (es)
• Turkish: korkunç (tr), dehşet (tr)

great or intense

• Hungarian: hatalmas (hu)

External links

• terrific in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• terrific in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• ferritic