terrific

形容词 adj.
/təˈɹɪfɪk/    /təˈɹɪfɪk/

英文释义

形容词 adj.
  1. Causing terror; terrifying. archaic
    — [T]he diſmal ſhrieks of demoniac rage […] rouſed phantoms of horror in her mind, far more terrific than all that dreaming ſuperſtition ever drew.
  2. Very strong or intense; excessive, tremendous.
    — The car came round the bend at a terrific speed.
  3. Extremely good; excellent, amazing.
    — I say! She's a terrific tennis player.

词形变化

more terrific comparative most terrific superlative terrifick alternative,obsolete

词源

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *tres-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Proto-Indo-European *troséyeti
Proto-Italic *trozeō
Latin terreō
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der.
Proto-Italic *θakos
Proto-Italic *-fakos
Latin -ficus
Latin terrificusder.
French terrifiqueder.
English terrific
From French terrifique, and its source, Latin terrificus (“terrifying”), from terrēre (“to frighten, terrify”) + -ficus, related to facere (“to make”). By surface analysis, terrify + -ic.
The sense of excellent or amazing is an ameliorative semantic shift from the original sense of terrifying. Compare similar semantic development in sick and wicked.
0 次浏览 数据来源: Wiktionary