Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

terrify

 [ter-uh-fahy]   Origin

ter·ri·fy

   [ter-uh-fahy]
verb (used with object), -fied, -fy·ing.
to fill with terror or alarm; make greatly afraid.
Origin:
1565–75; < Latin terrificāre, equivalent to terr(ēre) to frighten + -ificāre -ify

Related forms
ter·ri·fi·er, noun
ter·ri·fy·ing·ly, adverb
un·ter·ri·fied, adjective
un·ter·ri·fy·ing, adjective

Synonyms
See frighten.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To terrify

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Terrify is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
terrify (ˈtɛrɪˌfaɪ)
 
—vb , -fies, -fying, -fied
(tr) to inspire fear or dread in; frighten greatly
 
[C16: from Latin terrificāre, from terrēre to alarm + facere to cause]
 
'terrifier
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

terrify
1570s, from L. terrificare "to frighten," from terrificus "causing terror" (see terrific).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT