Nearby Words

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

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


See frighten.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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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.
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
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

terrify
1570s, from L. terrificare "to frighten," from terrificus "causing terror" (see terrific).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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