1. Causing great fear or alarm; dreadful: a terrible bolt of lightning; a terrible curse.2. Extremely formidable: terrible responsibilities.3. Extreme in extent or degree; intense: “the life for which he had paid so terrible a price” (Leslie Fiedler). 4a. Unpleasant; disagreeable: had a terrible time at the party; terrible food.b. Very bad: a terrible actor.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin terribilis, from terrre, to frighten.
t
r
-b
re, to frighten.
