terrificaladj.
/təˈrɪfᵻkl/, U.S. /təˈrɪfəkəl/ Now rare.
Relating to terror; terrifying; terrific.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adjective]
eislichc888
eyesfulOE
awfulc1175
smarta1200
ferlya1225
sternc1275
grisea1300
uglya1300
dreadfula1325
fell?c1335
stout1338
perilousc1380
terriblec1400
ghastfulc1449
timorous1455
epouventable1477
bedreadc1485
dreadablec1490
dreadc1540
buggisha1555
dreaded1556
monster-like1561
dire1567
scareful1567
terrifying1577
scary1582
direful1583
affrighting1592
dismal1594
affrightful1603
diral1606
tirable1607
frighting1619
scaring1641
affrighteninga1651
formidolous1656
terrific1667
terrifical1677
atrocious1733
terrorful1789
orful1845
lurid1850
terrorsome1890
turble1893
timorsome1894
like the wrath of God1936
1677 J. Webster Displaying Supposed Witchcraft xvii. 335 There is an active terror in man,..impressed in him by the Creator, which is as it were a terrifical character and signacle of God instamped upon man.
1776 H. Griffitts in C. L. Blecki & K. A. Wulf Milcah Martha Moore's Bk. (1997) 280 So fast do they hold the terrifical Rod, As to punish, for winking, a Sign or a Nod.
1831 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. in Rec. Girlhood (1878) III. 47 In the evening we had terrifical ghost stories.
1855 A. Manning Old Chelsea Bun-house xvii. 286 We were affrighted out of our Senses by a worse Shock and abundantly more terrifical.
1935 C. A. Smith Weird Tales Aug. 243/1 His bookshelves, with their bizarre and terrifical array of authorities on diabolism.
1954 E. Pope River in Wind viii. 207 ‘You going to fight me?’ ‘Listen. You don' t believe it? I have a terrifical punch.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1677