horrere

Horrēre is a Latin verb meaning to shudder, to stand on end, or to recoil in fear or disgust. It covers both physical reactions (such as hair bristling) and emotional responses (such as horror or moral revulsion). In classical Latin, it is used primarily intransitively to describe an involuntary reaction of the subject to something perceived as frightening, repugnant, or shocking. The verb belongs to the second conjugation, and it follows the standard 2nd-conjugation pattern for its tenses and moods.

In Latin, horrēre can express a range of intensities from a mild shiver to intense horror, and it can be used with various constructions to indicate the source of the reaction or the object provoking it. The form system includes present, imperfect, and perfect tenses, as well as subordinate clauses and complementary constructions, making it a versatile verb for conveying fear, revulsion, or physical tremor in literature from the Republic through late antiquity.

Etymology and derivatives reflect its core meaning of a bristling or trembling response. The root gives rise to several Latin nouns and adjectives, notably horrōr, horrōris meaning horror or dread. In English, the verb yields a family of derivatives such as horror (n.), horrible (adj.), horrify (v.), horrendous (adj.), and horrific (adj.), all stemming from the same Latin source.

Horrēre is generally contrasted with verbs of fear or anxiety such as metuere (to fear) or timēre (to fear). Whereas metūre and timēre emphasize anticipation or concern, horrēre emphasizes a bodily or visceral reaction—an abrupt shudder or recoil—often tied to something perceived as morally repugnant as well as physically terrifying.

See also: horror, horribilis, horrēre derivatives, Latin verbs of fear.