terrificationn.
/ˌtɛrᵻfᵻˈkeɪʃən/, U.S. /ˌtɛrəfəˈkeɪʃən/, Scottish English /ˌtɛrᵻfᵻˈkeʃən/ In early use chiefly Scottish.
1. The action of terrifying someone; the fact or condition of being terrified, consternation; a state of terror or alarm.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > apprehension > [noun] > panic
frightnessc1425
amaze1587
amazedness1587
terrification1601
panic1640
sauve-qui-peut1815
panic stations1918
tailspin1921
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [noun] > action of terrifying
terrification1601
1601 in T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia (1633) ii. iii. 140 The intent of Sir Thomas Norris being knowen, the feare and terrification thereof drew me into this action.
1612 in J. G. Wallace-James Deeds E. Lothian (1899) 29 For ane examplar terrificatioun to all Godles harlottis to flie and abhorre the lyk.
1643 in A. Peterkin Rentals Earldom & Bishoprick of Orkney (1820) App. 56 They shall be..punished for terrification of others.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom II. lv. 173 My husband and I have been in a very great terrification and numbplush, to hear such bad things of a person.
1767 A. Campbell Lexiphanes 56 Terrification seized me from the dreariness of the scene.
1797 Earl of Malmesbury in Diaries & Corr. (1844) III. 504 Now and then he tried terrification, by letting out some strong Jacobin phrases.
1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 318/1 Really, I can assure you, Mrs M'Auslan, that I ne'er got sic a terrification.
1853 W. Blair Chrons. Aberbrothock 3 Fat a terrification Bailie Wichtman's kye got in their byre.
1898 E. A. Ormerod Rep. Observ. Injurious Insects 1897 139 The results might cause much greater loss from terrification of the breeding stock than any moderate amount of warbles.
1921 S. Kaye-Smith Joanna Godden i. 49 Don't be in such a terrification about it, Miss Joanna.
1988 R. MacMullen Corruption & Decline Rome iii. 141 People..shuddered in the face of terrification by the mighty.
2003 G. Files Kissing Carrion 217 Body-parts and blood were juggled to produce an effect which was supposed to be equal parts titillation and terrification.
2. An instance of causing terror; a person or thing that causes alarm or dismay; (in weakened sense) a scene, a to-do. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [noun] > one who or that which terrifies
terrora1500
terrifier1586
terrible1606
terrification1622
fright1634
gastering1642
Dracula1938
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing apprehension or alarm > [noun] > alarm > something that alarms
fleac1430
fear1535
terrification1771
caution1834
1622 F. Rous Dis. of Time iii. 81 An Ambitious man may well be painted with two Faces or Aspects, the one looking vpward and making many curtesies, the other looking downward, and making many Frownes and Terrifications.
1639 W. Balcanquhall Large Declar. Tumults Scotl. 380 Putting in execution their damnable suggestions by their supercherie violence and terrifications.
1767 A. Campbell Sale of Authors ii. 87 Waiter, lay hold of that fellow, and shut him up again with his Terrifications, Floscular Elegancies, and Sentimental Feelings.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 224 I have met with so many axidents, surprisals, and terrifications, that I..believe I shall never be my own self again.
a1806 A. Grant Lett. from Mountains (1806) III. 180 She was a terrification to me.
1857 J. Woodmansee Closing Scene v. 242 His cave-like jaws terrifications grinn'd.
1898 S. R. Crockett Red Axe vii. 52 These mighty terrifications could portend no great ill to one who was the son of the formidable Red Axe of the Wolfsberg.
1941 S. Kaye-Smith Hidden Son ii. i. 197 You've only to..git Mus' Canning to stop all his meetings and terrifications on the Council and let chaps lik me earn their living.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1601