[hor.ror] n [ME horrour, fr. MF horror, fr. L, action of bristling, fr. horrere to bristle, shiver; akin to Skt harsate he is excited] (14c) 1 a: painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay "astonishment giving place to ~ on the faces of the people about me --H. G. Wells" b: intense aversion or repugnance
2. a: the quality of inspiring horror: repulsive, horrible, or dismal quality or character "contemplating the ~ of their lives --Liam O'Flaherty" b: something that inspires horror 3 pl: a state of extreme depression or apprehension
[2]horror adj (1797): calculated to inspire feelings of dread or horror: bloodcurdling "a ~ story"