Latin edit

Etymology edit

Future passive participle of horreō (dread, be afraid of).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

horrendus (feminine horrenda, neuter horrendum); first/second-declension adjective

  1. horrible, horrendous, horrific, horrid, dreadful, dreaded, frightful, awful
    • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Virgil, Aeneid 4.180–183:
      [...] pedibus celerem et pernīcibus ālīs:
      mōnstrum horrendum, ingēns, cui quot sunt corpore plūmae
      tot vigilēs oculī subter, mīrābile dictū,
      tot linguae, totidem ōra sonant, tot subrigit aurēs.
      [Rumor is] fleet-footed and swift-winged: a horrific monster, huge, who has for the feathers on her body as many watchful eyes underneath, [and] – incredible to relate – just as many tongues, sounding lips, and straining ears.
      (Fama or Rumor personified as an incredible monster.)

Declension edit

First/second-declension adjective.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative horrendus horrenda horrendum horrendī horrendae horrenda
Genitive horrendī horrendae horrendī horrendōrum horrendārum horrendōrum
Dative horrendō horrendō horrendīs
Accusative horrendum horrendam horrendum horrendōs horrendās horrenda
Ablative horrendō horrendā horrendō horrendīs
Vocative horrende horrenda horrendum horrendī horrendae horrenda

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • English: horrendous
  • Italian: orrendo
  • Portuguese: horrendo
  • Spanish: horrendo

References edit

  • horrendus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers