terrific

• terrifick (obsolete)

From Latin terrificus (“causing terror”), from terrere (“to frighten, terrify”) + -ficus, from facere (“to make”).

• IPA^(key): /təˈɹɪfɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɪfɪk

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

terrific (comparative more terrific, superlative most terrific)

1. (colloquial) Frighteningly good.

   I say! She's a terrific tennis player.

2. (colloquial) Astounding or awesome.

   The car came round the bend at a terrific speed.

3. (dated) Terrifying; causing terror.

   The lightning was followed by a terrific clap of thunder.

   • 1821, Charles Maturin, Melmoth the Wanderer, volume 2, page 154:

     Think of wandering amid sepulchral ruins, of stumbling over the bones of the dead, of encountering what I cannot describe,—the horror of being among those who are neither the living or the dead;—those dark and shadowless things that sport themselves with the reliques of the dead, and feast and love amid corruption,—ghastly, mocking, and terrific.

   • 1860, Charles Dickens, Captain Murderer

     He made love in a coach and six, and married in a coach and twelve, and all his horses were milk-white horses with one red spot on the back which he caused to be hidden by the harness. For, the spot would come there, though every horse was milk-white when Captain Murderer bought him. And the spot was young bride's blood. (To this terrific point I am indebted for my first personal experience of a shudder and cold beads on the forehead.)

4. Frightful or very unpleasant.

   I've got a terrific hangover this morning.

5. (colloquial) Extraordinarily great or intense.

   terrific speed

   • 1769, Joseph Collyer, transl., The Messiah. Attempted from the German of Mr. Klopstock‎, 4th edition, page 280:

     The heavenly orbs heard the commanding voice reverbate from the mountains of Adamida. The ſtar tremulous turn'd its thundering poles, and the whole creation reſounded; when, with terrific haſte, Adamida, in obediance to the divine command, flew amidſt overwhelming ſtorms, ruſhing clouds, falling mountains, and ſwelling ſeas.

• brilliant
• horrific

• terrible
• terrify
• terrifying
• terror
• terrorist
• terrorize

• terrific in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• terrific in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

• ferritic