horrendus

Horrendus is a Latin adjective meaning “dreadful” or “to be dreaded.” It is used to describe things that provoke fear, repulsion, or moral horror. In Latin syntax it agrees with the noun it modifies, with common forms including horrendus (masculine), horrenda (feminine), and horrendum (neuter). For example, res horrenda means “a dreadful thing,” while facinus horrendum means “a dreadful deed.”

Etymology and related forms: Horrendus derives from the verb horrere, “to shudder, be afraid,” a root that also gives rise to English horror-related words such as horror, horrid, and horrendous. The word participates in the same semantic field of fear and aversion found across the descendant languages.

Usage in classical texts: In ancient literature, horrendus commonly describes monstrous beings, ominous portents, or egregious actions. It functions as a straightforward descriptive term or as part of a larger phrase to emphasize severity. The term can appear in both prose and poetry, often to heighten dramatic or moral effect.

Modern reception: Today, horrendus survives mainly in linguistic and philological discussions of Latin grammar and word formation. Its English cognates—horror, horrid, horrendous—reflect a shared Indo-European lineage but are used differently in contemporary discourse. In scholarly contexts, horrendus provides a classic example of a first/second-declension gerundive-style adjective and its agreement patterns.

See also: horror, horrid, horrendous, Latin adjectives, Latin grammar.