— terrorful , adj. — terrorless , adj.
/ter"euhr/ , n.
1. intense, sharp, overmastering fear: to be frantic with terror.
2. an instance or cause of intense fear or anxiety; quality of causing terror: to be a terror to evildoers.
3. any period of frightful violence or bloodshed likened to the Reign of Terror in France.
4. violence or threats of violence used for intimidation or coercion; terrorism.
5. Informal. a person or thing that is especially annoying or unpleasant.
[ 1325-75; terr ( ere ) to frighten + -or -OR 1 ; r. ME terrour ]
Syn. 1. alarm, dismay, consternation. TERROR, HORROR, PANIC, FRIGHT all imply extreme fear in the presence of danger or evil. TERROR implies an intense fear that is somewhat prolonged and may refer to imagined or future dangers: frozen with terror. HORROR implies a sense of shock at a danger that is also evil, and the danger may be to others rather than to oneself: to recoil in horror. PANIC and FRIGHT both imply a sudden shock of fear. FRIGHT is usually of short duration: a spasm of fright. PANIC is uncontrolled and unreasoning fear, often groundless, that may be prolonged: The mob was in a panic.
Ant. 1. calm.