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terrific

adj
/təˈɹɪfɪk/US/ˈʈɛrɨfɪk/

Etymology

From French terrifique, and its source, Latin terrificus (“terrifying”), from terrēre (“to frighten, terrify”) + -ficus, related to facere (“to make”). By surface analysis, terrify + -ic. The sense of excellent or amazing is an ameliorative semantic shift from the original sense of terrifying. Compare similar semantic development in sick and wicked.

  1. derived from terrificus — “terrifying”
  2. derived from terrifique

Definitions

  1. Terrifying, causing terror

    Terrifying, causing terror; terrible; sublime, awe-inspiring.

    • [T]he diſmal ſhrieks of demoniac rage […] rouſed phantoms of horror in her mind, far more terrific than all that dreaming ſuperſtition ever drew.

  2. Very strong or intense

    Very strong or intense; excessive, tremendous.

    • The car came round the bend at a terrific speed.
    • I've got a terrific hangover this morning.

  3. Extremely good

    Extremely good; excellent, amazing.

    • I say! She's a terrific tennis player.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for terrific. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA