terribilis

Terribilis is a Latin adjective meaning “terrible,” “formidable,” or “awe-inspiring.” In classical Latin, it could describe people, objects, or events that provoked fear or admiration, and it was often used in a rhetorical or descriptive sense to convey intensity rather than moral judgment alone. The word survives in many modern Romance languages with a closely related form, such as Italian terribile, Spanish terrible, and French terrible.

Etymology and form: Terribilis is formed from the root terror or terr- with the suffix -bilis, meaning “able to be” or “capable of.” In Latin morphology, it declines as a third-declension adjective of the -ilis/-ile pattern: masculine and feminine singular terribilis, neuter singular terribile; plural forms include terribiles (masc./fem.) and terribilia (neut.). The neuter singular and plural use the form terribile and terribilia, respectively.

Usage and nuance: In classical texts, terribilis conveys force, danger, or majesty and can be employed positively or negatively depending on context. It frequently appears in descriptions of a formidable opponent, a striking event, or a potent display of power. In later Latin and in modern descendants, it retains the sense of something that inspires fear or awe, rather than merely being bad or evil.

In taxonomy and nomenclature, Latin adjectives like terribilis are sometimes used as specific epithets to denote a striking or formidable characteristic, though the epithet is chosen by the taxonomist and varies by species.

See also: courage and fear concepts in Latin rhetoric; Latin adjectives in literary style; Romance-language cognates.