temibili

Temibili is the plural form of the Italian adjective temibile, meaning formidable or fearsome. It is used to describe persons, things, or forces that inspire fear, awe, or respect due to their power, danger, or reputation. As a standard Italian adjective, temibile has the singular forms temibile (masculine and feminine) and the plural temibili (masculine and feminine), with temibili serving as the form for multiple referents.

Etymology and development: Temibile derives from the Latin temibilis, meaning “worthy of fear,” itself from timēre, “to fear.” The modern Italian term emerged in the medieval and Renaissance periods and follows the typical pattern of -ibile adjectives in Italian, yielding temibile in the singular and temibili in the plural.

Usage: In Italian, temibile and its plural temibili appear in attributive use (before a noun) and predicative use (after a linking verb). Examples include "una minaccia temibile" (a formidable threat) and "le creature temibili del territorio" (the fearsome creatures of the region). Temibili can also be used collectively to emphasize the threat or prowess of a group or force.

Cultural and linguistic notes: While primarily an Italian term, cognates or loan forms with similar meaning appear across Romance languages, often maintaining the notion of something worthy of fear. In literary and rhetorical contexts, temibili evokes intensity and danger without specifying exact details.

See also: temibile, formidable, fear, timēre.