horrible

Where does the word "horrible" come from? It comes from Latin horribilis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Horrible’s story begins in Latin: horribilis meant “terrible.” From 'horrere', to bristle with fear, as hair stands on end. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as horrible. The same root gives 'horror' and 'horrid'. It reached English by 1300s as horrible. By the 1500s used loosely for anything unpleasant. Today, horrible means causing horror; very unpleasant.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient horribilis "terrible", from 'horrere', to bristle with fear, as hair stands on end.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval horrible "dreadful", the same root gives 'horror' and 'horrid'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s horrible "terrifying", by the 1500s used loosely for anything unpleasant.