I. ˈterə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English terrour, from Middle French terreur, from Latin terror, from terrēre to frighten; akin to Greek trein to flee from fear, be afraid, Sanskrit trasati he trembles, is afraid
1.
a. : a state of intense fright or apprehension : stark fear
disquietude had developed into fright; fright … into terror — Emile Gaboriau
every beast … jarred out of tranquillity into terror , was spending its strength in flight — F.D.Davison
b. : terribleness
the dramatic, apocalyptic terror of concentrated bombing attacks — Anthony West
the blizzard broke in all its terror — O.E.Rolvaag
2.
a. : one that inspires fear : threat , scourge
horse thieves and murdering ruffians who were the terror of the border — E.V.Buckholder
b. : a frightening aspect
while withdrawal from opiates is never a pleasant experience, its terrors have probably been exaggerated — D.W.Maurer & V.H.Vogel
c. : a cause of anxiety : worry
it was the terror of my life that he might catch a chill — Ernest Beaglehole
d. : an appalling person or thing ; especially : brat II 2
a little terror at two and a half — May Sherwin
3. : reign of terror
reports that the Germans are increasing their terror in occupied regions — Walter Bernstein
Synonyms: see fear
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: frighten