Etymology Map
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Horrible

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means causing horror; very unpleasant

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

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

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.