Definition of horrendous

The word "horrendous" comes from the Latin adjective "horridus," which meant "animated by horror" or "frightful." The Latin word was derived from the adjective "horrere," which meant "to bristle" or "stand on end," suggesting a sense of fear or dread. The Latin "horridus" was borrowed into Old French where it was spelled "orrendus" (with a vowel change caused by the influence of a nearby Latin verb). The Middle English language then picked up the word "orrendus" around the 14th century, though it was spelled "horrondus" and "horrondus" as well. By the 15th century, "horrendus" and its variations had fallen out of use in English, but it began to be revived during the 17th century, this time in its modern spelling of "horrendous." During this time, "horrendous" carried the sense of "really horrible" or "extremely terrible," which it still holds today. In the centuries since, "horrendous" has appeared in the works of famous authors such as William Shakespeare, who uses it in his tragedy "Othello," as well as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who employs it in his poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Overall, the etymology of "horrendous" highlights the deep-rooted connections between Latin and English, as well as the ongoing evolution and adaptation of the English language over time.