# why doesn't terrific mean terror-like?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 14, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384 "2000-04-14T20:09:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![vanilla\_rice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vanilla\_rice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla_rice)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/1 "2000-04-14T20:09:00Z")

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if horrific and horrible are related to horror, why isn’t terrific related to  
terror or terrible?

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### Author: ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/2 "2000-04-14T20:18:00Z")

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It is, or in any case it was:

Main Entry: ter·rif·ic  
Pronunciation: t&-'ri-fik  
Function: adjective  
Etymology: Latin terrificus, from terrEre to frighten  
Date: 1667  
1 a : very bad : FRIGHTFUL b : exciting or fit to excite fear or awe  
2 : EXTRAORDINARY \<terrific speed\>  
3 : unusually fine : MAGNIFICENT \<terrific weather\>

- ter·rif·i·cal·ly /-fi-k(&-)lE/ adverb

It seems to have evolved from “frightening” to “awe-inspiring,” and now simply is used as a synonym for “excellent.” I seem to recall Cecil covering this once, but I haven’t searched the archives for it yet.

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### Author: ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/3 "2000-04-14T20:18:00Z")

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It used to. Coined in the late 1600s. The meaning shifted over the intervening centuries.

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### Author: ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/4 "2000-04-14T20:19:00Z")

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My first ever simulpost!

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### Author: ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/5 "2000-04-14T20:21:00Z")

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_Terrific_, like _terror_ and \*terrify \*, comes from the Latin, _terrere_, “to frighten.” In fact, the first definition listed in my dictionary for terrific is “causing terror or great fear.” It can also mean “to a great degree,” as in “a terrific speed” or “a terrific headache.”

I know we usually use it to mean “great” in a positive sense. My WAG is that this comes from the second definition above.

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Those who do not learn from history are condemned to fail the class. --A **WallyM7** creation

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### Author: ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/6 "2000-04-14T20:22:00Z")

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D’oh! (Note to self: Must type faster.)

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Those who do not learn from history are condemned to fail the class. --A **WallyM7** creation

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### Author: ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/7 "2000-04-14T22:43:00Z")

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So is the fact that words depart from their literal definitions _awful_ or _wonderful_?

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### Author: ![tony1234](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tony1234](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tony1234)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2000, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/8 "2000-04-14T23:19:00Z")

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Enormity and magnificent also have common semeantic roots (great size) but have diverged in connotation.

Tony

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### Author: ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2000, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/9 "2000-04-15T04:43:00Z")

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Let’s not forget fantastic which used to mean imaginary.

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### Author: ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2000, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-terrific-mean-terror-like/10384/10 "2000-04-15T07:07:00Z")

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All this is just _fabulous_…