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Where does the word "horror" come from? It comes from Latin horror, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "horror" come from? It comes from Latin horror, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Horror’s story begins in Latin: horror meant “bristling, shuddering.” From 'horrere', to bristle. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as horror. Hair standing on end in fear. It reached English by 1300s as horror. Horror films date from the 1930s. Today, horror means intense fear or shock.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient horror "bristling, shuddering", from 'horrere', to bristle.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval horror "horror", hair standing on end in fear.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s horror "dread", horror films date from the 1930s.