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terrific - 4 dictionary results

ter⋅rif⋅ic

  [tuh-rif-ik]
Use terrific in a Sentence
–adjective
1. extraordinarily great or intense: terrific speed.
2. extremely good; wonderful: a terrific vacation.
3. causing terror; terrifying.
Origin:
1660–70; < L terrificus frightening, equiv. to terr(ēre) to frighten + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic

Related forms:
ter⋅rif⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1, 2. extraordinary, remarkable. 2. fine, excellent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ter·rif·ic   (tə-rĭf'ĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Very good or fine; splendid: a terrific tennis player.
  2. Awesome; astounding: drove at a terrific rate of speed.
  3. Causing terror or great fear; terrifying: a terrific wail.
  4. Very bad or unpleasant; frightful: a terrific headache.

[Latin terrificus : terrēre, to frighten + -ficus, -fic.]
ter·rif'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Terrific

Ter*rif"ic\, a. [L. terrificus; fr. terrere to frighten + facere to make. See Terror, and Fact.] Causing terror; adapted to excite great fear or dread; terrible; as, a terrific form; a terrific sight.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : terrific
Spanish: fantástico, maravilloso, fabuloso,
German: großartig,
Japanese: すばらしい
More Translations »

terrific 
1667, "frightening," from L. terrificus "causing terror or fear," from terrere "fill with fear" (see terrible) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Weakened sensed of "very great, severe" (e.g. terrific headache) appeared 1809; colloquial sense of "excellent" began 1888.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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